Reply To: Fauxtogs who should end up on the main page…

[JanJan]

In Vegas, where I live, it seems like my favorite places are more and more stringent on permits. I understand that if it’s on a private property, the owners can do whatever they want on their property. When my favorite graffiti art area in the Arts District started charging $25 per hour for photo shoots, I wasn’t upset because it’s private property. Of course, I was bummed when they started charging because it used to be open for photography, but I was more understanding.  And of course,  commercial photography of any kind is prohibited inside the casinos unless you get permission from marketing or PR. This is why you will see more exterior shots of The Strip.

The Vegas area has 2 locations that are managed by the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), which is Red Rock Canyon and Jean Dry Lake Bed. The BLM is a branch of the US Department of Interior, and is funded by my tax dollars. I don’t understand why I will need to request for a permit that requires 14 days advanced notice, at least $100 (I’m thinking $250), and insurance to be shooting in a wide-open area like Red Rock and the dry lake bed. It’s not like I’m blocking off sections for my photo shoot for regular visitors. I heard that at Red Rock, anyone can be viewed as a “model”. If the rangers see a family who is obviously taking “professional” pictures (ie. the family is dressed alike or in clothing not comfortable for hiking), they can get fined $400! I had to warn a girl and her female cousin (who was wearing a nice dress and cowboy boots as opposed to jeans and tennis shoes) to watch out for the ranger who was a few hundred feet away because she taking “modeling” pictures. Even though the girl was doing it for free and having fun, they don’t care, her cousin was a “model”.

The same goes for the Jean Dry Lake bed. If you bust out a reflector and a model, you can get fined if the ranger catches you. I think this is more ridiculous because it’s an open area that is out in the middle of nowhere and not easily accessible. They allow people to go dirt biking or riding their ATV’s, which does more damage to the area, but they don’t allow “commercial-like” photography.

It just basically boils down to money!