How sad is the situation in Australia

[tuxcomputers]

In Australia we have 3 levels of govt, Federal, State and Local Councils. The NSW Govt has released a Filming Protocol that can be viewed here.

In it page 8 states:
"This Protocol does not cover stills photography – the Filming Related Legislation Amendment Act 2008 and the Local Government Act 1993 specifically exclude still photography, and it does not require council approval or attract council fees unless it involves additional activity such as blocking streets...."

So happy days for us photographers! We don't need council approval and can't be charged right? WRONG.

Those idiots have zero clue. Bondi is known world wide, it is within the Waverly city council domain. They have to be one of the worst councils gouging photographers. Their charging fees can be seen here.

Low impact is just a person + their camera, let me give you a little taste of what these bastards charge for and how much, taken from page 29:
Application fee: $150
Location fee: $75 per hour

Some of the other things you may be required to pay for:
Compensation (shoots longer than 3 days)
Supervision cost is per hour
Site preparation
Site visit

Don't come to Oz we let these idiots make up these friggin rules, we are a sad sad lot. My plan is to visit Bondi this summer, get fined for not having a permit and fight them in court.

Oh BTW Waverly council even claim to have dominion over those in the skies.

[gturner]

This is only for commercial work were filming takes place and I can't see the problem.It is pretty standard the world over.

The worst thing about Sydney is the stupid trademark law of the Opera House and the Bridge. That is insanity for you!

[RLucas]

Originally Posted by gturner

This is only for commercial work were filming takes place and I can't see the problem.It is pretty standard the world over.

The worst thing about Sydney is the stupid trademark law of the Opera House and the Bridge. That is insanity for you!

That was the way I read it too.

[moscowmartin]

The problem with this is what the law in your country says is commercial work, usually advertising but not art or editorial work. The next problem is what the council workers believe is covered by commercial work, like having a camera bigger than a point and shoot or god forbid a tripod. The last part of the problem is that the average person in the street do not know the law or their rights and believe everything that people in some sort of authority tell them.

In the UK, I have had threatening emails quoting commercial fees of hundreds of pounds per hour, when I pointed out that my image did not come under commercial use they agreed but still asked if I would pay some money as a good will gesture! Told them that if they did not want their property in public view then they should take it down or cover it up. The building does not have copyright or trademark protection.

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by moscowmartin

The problem with this is what the law in your country says is commercial work, usually advertising but not art or editorial work.

Usually yes, but these idiots don't care if it is advertising or not. If you get ANY kind of commercial gain from it, (like for example making postcards out of the photos you take) they want their cut.

People are idiots, they want tax cuts, they will vote in whoever will give them a tax break. Govt's and councils then have less money in the kitty to spend, so they look at ways to rip off anyone and everyone.

Holding up examples of well known photographers (like Ken Duncan) that do get paid handsomely for a single print is the way they justify slugging everyone for these fees.

Can any pros here afford to pay $150 per hour to use a public place if the wedding party is 15 people? That's ANY public place, a park, a beach, any where that's publicly accessible needs to have a permit.

Is that really standard practice around the world? If so can you give me some examples with links?

[gturner]

Filming and permits

http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/ehd/Do...nformation.pdf

It is normal in cities or towns popular with filming. Cape Town and Sydney would be top of that list.

[tuxcomputers]

Originally Posted by gturner

Filming and permits

http://www.capetown.gov.za/en/ehd/Do...nformation.pdf

It is normal in cities or towns popular with filming. Cape Town and Sydney would be top of that list.

....bzzzztttt.... big fat FAIL.... you linked to a document that does not require you to get a permit or pay fees simply for having commercial gain intent. That was all about impact and access, try again.

[gturner]

Do you have any manners or intellect?
Shop around in there - you will find the list of fees.

[Woody]

I have taken thousands of photos around Sydney, including the Harbour Bridge, Opera House and Bondi Beach and surrounds. I have used my 450D and a 70-300 lens and at times with a tripod, big enough to be "commercial" to most.

I have never in my 30+ years of photography with an array of SLR cameras, ever been asked, stopped nor harrased. Same goes with my grand kids sports or surfing. Not once, never.

Then again, I've done the same in London, Paris, Hong Kong, Singapore, New York, LA and San Francisco. Never been stopped, asked nor looked at strangely.

Maybe I dont look like a terrorist nor a commercial exploiter of our scenery.

Cheers,

John W

[candleman]

Originally Posted by gturner

Do you have any manners or intellect?
.

..............+1