It\'s about greed. It\'s a cash grab, nothing more. It\'s actually only fairly recently that the Navajo Nation started to really collect in earnest \"permit fees\" from \"photographers,\" at least at Upper Antelope. I\'m not sure when the policy was implemented, but noticed the change when traveling through the southwest last summer. It would be absurd to attempt to enforce it in retrospect.
What is offensive is that there does not seem to be any understanding of what a \"permit\" allows---or rather if the Navajo Nation is issuing permits, then it seems reasonable that they should also be providing something in exchange, e.g. clearing out the crowds in Upper Antelope \"for your commercial shoot.\" Safety and security? Crowd control? Isn\'t that why a commercial permit is issued? Check liability insurance? Obviously they don\'t. And anyone present purchasing a \"photographer\'s tour\" can attest to the fact that they receive essentially the same herd mentality treatment as the general public who isn\'t on a \"photographer\'s tour\" and doesn\'t have a \"permit.\"
I didn\'t enjoy Upper Antelope, though it was just one of those places important to take my son. Permit? Nah, as it stands, I won\'t be back. Clear out the crowds and offer something in return, maybe....
Dec 10, 2011 at 07:58 PM
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