dbehrens wrote:
Lovely capture and composition! At first I was going to say there's no way to improve on this - but then I see this is handheld and shot at ISO 1000. Did you just forget your tripod?
I'm seeing more and more restrictions being placed on responsible photographers at the expense of ignorant tourists, ungrateful self-centered people and a few photo workshops. Its really time to have an honest political discussion on how responsible landscape photographers can have access to public lands during non-business hours.
Dave
Certainly irresponsible photographers cause the more harm than the responsible ones, but I think the issue also has to do with the huge number of us. A few people acting responsibly in a fragile place does little damage, while thousands or tens of thousands of us visiting a fragile environment each year, even when acting responsibly, can do a lot of damage. Nearly everyplace, even far from the beaten path, is popular now.
Very nice image Sunny!
Well deserved win (tie - never understood those)..
Unfortunately in my opinion, this is one of those "The genie got out of the bottle" results of ridiculously affordable digital photography, increasing population and social media. The fences are going up all over Utah, and I never thought I'd see that happen. There are constant stupid examples of people purposely destroying things.
Even though it was man made I still am amazed at the two tourists destroying the sand sculpture in Hawaii a few weeks ago.
Or, the people on their ATV's out on the White Rim.
Or, people flying drones in restricted areas.
My favorite lately are those just walking their dogs all over in Arches or Canyonlands. And nobody says a word, nor is a ranger to be found.
I'm starting to be of the belief that the responsible photographers are in the minority, along with responsibility in the general public. Not the inverse that everyone wishes were true.
Congrats! Beautiful iconic image, with great light! It is a shame about the fences and crowd control measures, but it is the only way to protect what we love. We might as well get accustomed it, because it will get worse before it gets better. As the population increases so does the number of idiots, it is obvious everywhere you look.
Lovely image of that tree. Too bad about the coming restrictions though I wonder if it'll impact all of the groves. Makes sense that they're doing it though ... we humans barely deserve nice things.
dbehrens wrote:
Lovely capture and composition! At first I was going to say there's no way to improve on this - but then I see this is handheld and shot at ISO 1000. Did you just forget your tripod?
I'm seeing more and more restrictions being placed on responsible photographers at the expense of ignorant tourists, ungrateful self-centered people and a few photo workshops. Its really time to have an honest political discussion on how responsible landscape photographers can have access to public lands during non-business hours.
Dave
I like the idea of permits. A permit application accompanied by a reasonable fee seems like a good way to separate the conscientious photographers from the tourist Riff-raff. Unfortunately, permitting regimes can be oppressive to the point effectively banning photography by anyone but deep-pocketed commercial shooters with budgets. My wife and I were shooting portraits at a local park in Beverly Hills the other day and were shooed off by a ranger and city official for violating park policy. I politely asked about a permit and the ranger kindly gave me a number and contact. I contacted the person, and he told me that the minimum cost of permit for shooting anywhere in Beverly Hills with anything other than point-and-shoot camera was $500/day. And you'd need to specify the day and time in advance. So basically, it is impossible to spontaneously take pictures in Beverly Hills with anything other than a point-and-shoot (commercial or otherwise) without hazarding a cease-and-desist by local authorities.
I understand the motivations for permitting but the rigidity of many systems is, IMO, starting to frustrate the ability to "speak" artistically. There's a compelling purpose for protecting the Bristlecone pine forests, but a sidewalk in Beverly Hills?
CoastalFog wrote:
WOW great photo Sunny and great to still see some familiar names participating in this group. We need another Pismo Beach meetup!
Speak of the Devil! I was just thinking about you the other day while looking at the photos we took last time. Def agree we do need another get together. Let's plan something in Oct/Nov.
