--- In Volker Widmann <>
wrote:
> Does anybody think that the new regulations would also affect us
> ordinary amateurs with professional looking gear.
The photographers got concerned a number of years ago about this. But
it was pretty clear at that time that the aim of the regulations were
large productions: seven lighting trucks, the train of Winnebago's
for the "talent", and the 10's or hundreds of workers, two miles of
cables strewn all over the place, and the concomitant footprint all
this equipment lays upon the land, as well as the impact on other
visitors.
So my guess is that the current set of proposals are going to amount
to the same thing. So it's likely that if you are alone or in a small
group, hauling around hand-held professional equipment, brandishing a
big lens, whatever, no one is going to care, even if they manage to
notice.
> How do you prove that the material you record never will be used
> commercially.
If you have three guys holding reflectors, or are building a scaffold
for cameras or lights, it's almost surely a "commercial" operation
that probably needs to be monitored closely.
Some guy in the middle of nowhere with a microphone is unlikely to be
a threat, let alone found or hassled. If the lower-level cops/rangers
are not aware of this, then there are bigger problems to deal with
than the wording, or even the existence, of these regulations.
> I once got stopped at Crystal Cove State Park (near Laguna
> Beach) doing some video and sound.
A month after I got my 500/4, I drove it across the continent. At a
state park in Kansas, I was approached by a ranger. The initial
impression was that, like me, he just an equipment geek. But as the
"interview" progressed, it was clear he was investigating the
possibility I had stolen the gear (the scene: a long haired
freaky-looking guy with fancy gear). Submit with a smile; $5k
investment on the line (receipts at home)!
In any case, it was a useful lesson that ironically taught me to act
like a criminal in some way: ever since I am now careful to keep the
good stuff out of sight from not only the unsavory types, but also the
authorities. It turns out to be easy to do this, as the best spots
for camera/video/audio work are not on the regular patrol routes
anyways...
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