National Parks & Tripods

[Mike Sinclair <sinclair@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I can't speak for all National Park locations but when I did a number of
pans (Roundshot) on and near the US Capitol bldg (outside), I had to get
written permission from the Grounds  Seargant (see below) to use a tripod -
took the better part of a day and a very well known Senator's office help. I
also had permission to shoot in the Senate Chambers - was supposed to have
been the first time a camera was allowed there since CSPAN installed their
cameras in 1987. It really took an act of Congress. Even with that written
permission, the word evidently didn't get to the Senate Chamber guards and
we were "detained" (arrested) for a short while. For pans inside the Capitol
bldg, I did the stand-in-place-and-pan-and-click method with a lot of
Photoshop work afterwards (and a lot of dirty looks from the guards). So,
unless things have changed, using a tripod on Capitol grounds shouldn't be
counted on without written permission.

-Mike-

-----Original Message-----
From: kathjeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:kathjeff@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Tuesday, March 07, 2000 2:29 PM
To: panorama-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: April Meeting - Update II (long but informative)


Richard
Are you sure of the tripod permits for the National Parks?   Has it changed
in the last year??  Commercial photography is fine anywherein the National
Parks as long as you are not
blocking a trail or access area, or using props and models etc.  There were
only a few restrictions on where you could use a tripod, such as the Viet
Nam Memorial, and the marble steps
of the monuments etc...  I have the regs from the Secretary of the Interior,
which applies on Park Service lands only.  As a ""Park Police" for the last
27 years,  I try and keep up on
the regs for photography, however being at the San Francisco Field Office
for the last 20 years, I may have missed a new directive that may have come
out over the last year or so.  I
will make some calls next week and find out.  I do know that as long as your
anywhere the public can go on NPS land then you can take photos wether it be
commercial or non- commercial,
without a permit, with intentions to sell the photo for big bucks!
Jeff

Richard Schneider wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,
>
> I am certain that taking (panoramic) photographs of the Cherry Blossoms
(and springtime in DC in general) is one of the reasons why you are
considering attending the April Meeting.
>
> Be forewarned that the use of a tripod (an absolute necessity for some
panoramic
> photography) is allowed only with a permit on virtually all federal lands
in the DC area. If the
> Park Police see you using a tripod let's say, at the Tidal Basin near the
Jefferson Memorial,
> they will ask to see your permit. If you do not produce one, you will be
asked to remove the
> tripod from the premises or store it away.
>
> I have embarked on getting permits for about 20 or so attendees to be used
in several DC
> locations. The trouble is, some federal agencies have separate rules for
commercial
> photography and individual use photography. If you know for certain that
the photographs
> you take will be for a commercial purpose, then I'd suggest you apply for
a permit separately.
> I've sought to get permits to cover the duration of the meeting (April
6-8). If you are planning
> to arrive before or plan to stay later than those dates and wish to
photograph, then once
> again, apply for a permit separately. In the "Gray Area" category: What if
you take a picture
> "for yourself", but at a later date decide that you'd like to use it for a
commercial purpose??
> My answer: I wouldn't worry about it.
>
> The following locations require a permit in order to use a tripod on the
premises. I have
> included as much pertinent information as I could find regarding contact:
>
> National Park Service
> - has jurisdiction over the Mall, Tidal Basin, Grant Memorial, C&O Canal
Park in Maryland and
> Virginia -
> Contact: Robbin Owen or Richard Merryman
> Phone: 202-619-7225   FAX: 202-401-2430
> Please note: My application is under consideration for 20 people. The
permit, if issued, would
> only cover Thurs. April 6 and Fri. April 7. NPS would not issue a permit
to me for the weekend
> but remember, if you hand-hold your cameras, you are "in business" here
and everywhere.
>
> National Arboretum
> - a relatively unknown property which should be beautiful in the Spring -
it is in North East
> Washington on New York Avenue -
> Contact: Nancy Luria or Lisa Baldes
> Phone: 202-245-4523   FAX: 202-245-4575
>
> US Capitol - House Side
> Contact: Teresa Johnson, House Sergeant of Arms Office
> Room: H-124
> Phone: 202-225-2456
> Please note: I already have the permit for 20 people. All tripods need to
be utilized on grass
> and not on concrete or marble.
>
> US Capitol - Senate Side
> Contact: US Capitol Police
> Room: ST-3
> Phone: 202-225-3121
> Please note: Yes, you do need separate permits for the House and Senate
sides of the US
> Capitol!! These permits are only issued the day you plan on using it.
>
> On April 6, the Meeting will commence at the Library of Congress Prints
and Photographs
> Division Office - Room LM-337 (3rd floor). The time will likely be between
9:30 and 10:00 am.
> This office is in the Madison building of the L of C. Large, modern in
appearance. Located at Independence Avenue and First St. NE.
>
> After our tour of the Library, we will have an opportunity to photograph
on the US Capitol
> grounds. If we have any desire to take a group photo, this might present a
good opportunity.
>
> I still have several possibilities for afternoon activities, including a
tour of the Smithsonian's
> photo facility. On the way down from Capitol Hill to the Smithsonian, you
may want to stop
> in and see two photographic exhibitions - one at the National Gallery and
the other at the
> National Archives.
>
> I will let you know more in "Update III", which will be sent in a week or
less.
>
> Thanks,
> Richard