Permits for Filming on Public Lands

[David W. Richardson]

I just read and agree with the North American Nature Photography Association statement on public lands access http://www.nanpa.org/docs/PublicLandsAccess.pdf

Well I only gave it a quick read, and didn't see anything I particularly disagreed with. But I also didn't see anything that addressed the specific issue you mentioned at the outset -- the disparity in fees charged.

"Public lands" encompasses a wide range of areas. Some are federally owned. Some state, county, city or municipality owned. There will always be a difference in fees from one public land to the next, especially if they are in widely different areas. Fees are probably higher in states where the cost of everything else is higher as well -- like California, for instance. It seems to me the only confusion is in finding out who has jurisdiction over a particular park or area, which really isn't so hard.

I suspect that unless, or until, one entity controls ALL public lands, there will always be variations in fees charged. As for the difference between fees charged for a still photographer that differ from fees charged for a videographer or crew, I would imagine that has to be dealt with on a park by park basis.