The proposed rule change for taking photos and videos in wilderness areas is asinine. CiloGear applauds Oregons senior Senator Ron Wyden for speaking out against the idea that you could be fined $1000 for taking a dang picture in a wilderness area. Hopefully, this will get shot down real quick. CiloGear clearly benefits from photographs taken in wilderness areas, and we encourage professional photographers to comply with all local restrictions and permit processes. This however is overbroad and moronic. You take a picture of your trip, put it on your blog and get a fine. The Forest Service thinks thats great. Its not a problem, its a responsibility, Liz Close said. We have to follow the statutory requirements. Liz Close is the acting Forest Service wilderness director. What the heck does she and the people who came up with this rule think they are doing? CiloGear agrees that protecting the wilderness from being exploited for commercial gain is of the utmost importance. There is an enormous difference between minimizing impact of permitted commercial activities be it a guide service or a photo shoot for a catalog and blanket restrictions of our first amendment right to photograph, video and document our experiences as we see fit. Please go to the public comments page and make a formal comment on this rule change. https://federalregister.gov/articles/2014/09/04/2014-21093/proposed-directive-for-commercial-filming-in-wilderness-special-uses-administration?utm_campaign=email+a+friend&utm_medium=email&utm_source=federalregister.gov
Posted on: Thu, 25 Sep 2014 16:14:00 +0000