TMNP getting carried away with their owm perceived importance.

[Mike Mac]

From SANParks web

Transfer of SANParks Filming and Photography Permit Function from Head Office [Pretoria] to Cape Town

Fri, 12/11/2009 - 08:31 — cfcadmin In August this year, SANParks internalised the Commercial Filming and Photography permit process which was previously contracted to a service provider. The intentions for doing this were numerous; one of the main reasons being SANParks’ compliance with the Public Finance Management Act and another being that SANParks has a need to be in control of commercial activities taking place in the protected areas it manages.
In the four-and-a-half months that the permit process has been conducted from SANParks’ Head Office in Pretoria, we have been able to accommodate and assess this particular activity in the parks. Given that the core business of SANParks is Conservation and Tourism, we have also been able to institute the necessary regulations in terms of commercial filming and photography, which were previously not in place, as advised by the Park Managers, Area Managers and Section Rangers.
SANParks has identified that the Cape Region is the busiest sector in terms of commercial filming and photography with the areas within Table Mountain National Park being the most popular for the industry. With this in mind, SANParks has transferred the function of issuing of filming and photography permits to its Cape Town office.
From 11 December 2009, any requests for commercial [documentary included] filming and photography in South African National Parks should be sent through to Vanessa Fletcher at vanessaf@sanparks.org , telephone number 021 701 8692 and fax number 021 701 8773.
The procedure for application and the relevant documents can be found on the SANParks website at http://www.sanparks.org/groups/filming
It must be noted that certain areas of SANParks will be closed to filming and photography during the holiday season that is upon us. These are as follows:
West Coast National Park is closed between 12/12/2009 and 10/01/2010
Areas in Table Mountain National Park that will close are listed as follows:
Cape Point/Cape of Good Hope Section 15/12/2009 to 15/01/2010
Boulders Beach [including boardwalks] 11/12/2009 to 12/01/2010
Silvermine 16/12/2009 to 11/01/2010
All tourist access and activity will still continue during the dates mentioned above as the closure only applies to commercial filming and photography. All other locations of Table Mountain National Park will still be available for filming and photography. SANParks Head Office will close from 15 December 2009 to 4 January 2010.
SANParks would like to extend its gratitude to the filming and photography industry for its understanding of the mandate of South African National Parks and for its patience during this process of internalising of this function as well as during the handover. It is hoped that the good working relationship established directly between SANParks and companies in the industry will continue and grow in the future.

The problem is that the Rangers are seeing any photographer with professional looking equipment as falling under this "law". So even if you want no special arrangements or access to special areas, causing no more damage to the area than other users, you will be confronted by warders and probably have to pack up and leave.

And as I said earlier, you can get a no cost permit for R150 admin fee to keep the Rangers off your back, but it is very inflexible. Oh, I forgot to mention, they don't issue permits for weekends and public holidays . Go figure.

[jaytee]

SANPARK Link
http://www.sanparks.org/groups/filming/

Well, if that applies to the TMNP, then an amateur photographer using a 20+mp camera doesn`t need any kind of permit.

[Mike Mac]

Well, if that applies to the TMNP, then an amateur photographer using a 20+mp camera doesn`t need any kind of permit.

As mentioned earlier, the problem is not with the law. I have no problem with having to obtain a permit for a commercial shoot. The problem comes in when (and this happened to me so i am speaking from experience) the Ranger, for what ever reason (camera looks professional, you have a tripod, heaven forbid you use a flash), decides that your shoot is commercial and insist on a permit. If you can't provide one, you are requested to leave immediately, threathened with arrest or a fine (whether or not they are legally entitled to do so or not) your shoot is ruined.


From the press article, it appears that the Rangers are being instructed to take a very broad interpretation of what is deemed a commercial shoot and that is the problem.

[jaytee]

Agreed. So the solution is to confront the TMNP, by inviting them onto this forum, or through the media, or by refusing to obey a ranger and if necessary forcing them to either prosecute or leave you alone.

But if we accept the situation we ensure that it becomes the norm.

[Leo Theron]

The moment you ask for a permit - you 'commercialize' yourself!

You must retain your status as a tourist…

[HeinrichR]

you can get a no cost permit for R150 admin fee ..... Go figure.

HUH...
So That would mean that my tv,drivers, car licenses is free apart from the +R500 "admin" fee,

[jab2]

The plot thickens. Found this on the SANParks website.

They talks about, and I quote, “the filming and simultaneous transmitting of photographic images by the use of a web cam or other image recording or transmitting device”. Now this is not even an ordinary camera,never mind more than 10 Mpixels. It talks about filming and simultaneous transmitting.

This is the GG in which the above reg was published. Only the above sentence on photography in the 31 pages.

Interesting thread on climb.co.za about taking photos on TM.

[visagieh]

“the filming and simultaneous transmitting of photographic images by the use of a web cam or other image recording or transmitting device”.

The surfers have a web cam from Blouberg Strand. Very nice TM in the background. Does this mean they have to stop filming.

They focus on what the sea is doing, now move TM out of the way.

[jaytee]

The plot thickens. Found this on the SANParks website.

They talks about, and I quote, “the filming and simultaneous transmitting of photographic images by the use of a web cam or other image recording or transmitting device”. Now this is not even an ordinary camera,never mind more than 10 Mpixels. It talks about filming and simultaneous transmitting.

This is the GG in which the above reg was published. Only the above sentence on photography in the 31 pages.

Interesting thread on climb.co.za about taking photos on TM.

I see the climb guys have been quite pro-active. But they`re talking about a free ANNUAL permit - not the thing Mike Mac got. Either way it seems clear to me that the TMNP is trying to invent a permit which isn`t required by the legislation. I think they need to explain that (and then apologise + withdraw it).

[elsahoffmann]

Buggerall chance to get someone on board to take a stance. It aint going to happen.
Someone needs to be arrested/fined and this needs to be tested in court.
I am with Heinrich on the "free" permit. WTF.
I refuse to apply for a permit - and if I shoot an image that I one day sell - tough **** TM.
Anyway - the RANGERS takes pics. Go figure.

[Henk Coetzee]

OK CT togs. Here's the challenge:

From climb.co.za

I propose a shoot-off!

Let's organize a huuuuge crowd, each person armed with a camera, head up there and just start snapping away at everything, including the rangers trying to confiscate cameras.

Could call ourselves the See Shepherds.

Link up with the climbers and let's make this happen. The bigger and more "professional" looking the camera, the better. Arrange press as the press are now allowed to shoot there.

It's not just Cape Town. In February I was informed that my monopod wasn't welcome in the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul as this singled me out as a "professional photographer". All my other gear was OK.

[Henk Coetzee]

link

[elsahoffmann]

I am press. so I dont need a permit? cool.
I am in.

[Forgiss - Sean Nel]

... In February I was informed that my monopod wasn't welcome in the Basilica Cistern in Istanbul as this singled me out as a "professional photographer". All my other gear was OK.

Most places in Europe (also in Turkey) I have been to where crowds can become an issue, tripods and monopods are a no-go. Some locations allow tripods but only at certain times... It's more a safety issue (somebody tripping over a tripod and falling down the stairs, etc) and was mainly caused by inconsiderate photographers.

Only places I have had issues due to the camera I was carrying is Menlyn Shopping centre, and outside Westminster shooting the brittish parliament

[Henk Coetzee]

Most places in Europe (also in Turkey) I have been to where crowds can become an issue, tripods and monopods are a no-go. Some locations allow tripods but only at certain times... It's more a safety issue (somebody tripping over a tripod and falling down the stairs, etc) and was mainly caused by inconsiderate photographers.

This I can understand. If anyone told me my tripod was a safety hazard I would understand - although I sometimes wonder at the risks that safety officers dream up. Somehow, while high-end camera sales into the amateur market are possibly higher than they've ever been before, people are using some sort of weird ideas about ownership to clamp down on photographers.

[Mike Wrankmore]

My understanding is that there is an activity permit,i have one(re dog walking,rock climbing,mountain biking ......and it's graded into level 1,2,3 category depending on what activity you are doing).You are issued with a laminated card with your photograph on it.This is valid for a year.....so i bet you the rockclimbers will not get it right for free entry no permit.There will always be an ADMIN FEE ......And if they get it right....then what about the dog walkers,or the mountain bikers.....
TMNP has already banned certain activities in certain area's....for instance...bouldering in the RED HILL area in Simonstown has been banned.....the rock climbers were not happy and pro-actively went about ticking all the boxes required by TMNP.....ie: stopping the activity until a proper impact assessment had been done voluntarily by the Mountain Club of S.A.After months of effort and discusssion with TMNP...they presented the Impact assessment....to be told that....the impact assessment that was done was only for the RED HILL area.....and it had to be for the whole of the TMNP area! People aren't happy.....and civil disobedience has been proposed.

I have no problem with Professional shoots of any kind being charged a Fee within TMNP.......I have a problem with the implementation of policing this rule by people that have not been properly trained in how to deal with members of the public that are legitimate amateur photographers.

At the end of the day.....we as taxpayers,wildcardholders,permit holders......have more than paid for their salaries......treat us with the respect we deserve!

[Trevor Ives]

I have no problem with Professional shoots of any kind being charged a Fee within TMNP.......I have a problem with the implementation of policing this rule by people that have not been properly trained in how to deal with members of the public that are legitimate amateur photographers.

Mike, you have hit it on the head. Rules are rules. And while it MUST be said, the public don't always get it right, neither do the 'enforcers' eg: 'you must be a pro with that camera', 'no more than 10MP', 'I suspect you're going to sell those images'.

[jaytee]

From what I can see, they`re trying to enforce a rule which doesn`t exist. That`s what`s got to be resisted.

[HGL1]

and if I shoot an image that I one day sell - tough **** TM.

TMNP Rangers: 1
Real Amateurs: 0

[HiltonP]

This short follow-up article was published in the FISH HOEK ECHO of 3 May.