foathog Loc: Greensboro, NC

We should all start taking shots of toilets. everyone's got one. LOL

le boecere

"If you observe humans as I have been forced to do for the past 30 years, you see that they are the most militantly self centered creatures to walk the face of this earth since time began. They therefore behave as though they are the only one on earth. They are entitled to whatever their whim du jour."

And, my 30+ years of observation, as well. Don't know how it could be stated more accurately.

(BTW; you'll not win any popularity contests on this or any other internet forum, telling such blatant truths. :)

_Van

lifesmirage Loc: Arizona

Is this what happened to the weekly contest>

n3eg Loc: West coast USA

One of my favorites was when I was 16 and I did a headshot of someone at camp that we all hated with my Polaroid. I then double exposed it with a shot of the camp toilet. Good thing I learned exposure at age 13 - it came out perfectly.

terry44 Loc: Tuolumne County California, Maui Hawaii

I agree with you Jerry I have run into this problem many times and now the ipad and phone users are becoming just as rude, I recently shot my granddaughters dance recital and the people who put those pads up destroyed a great many of my shots, I also had someone ask me to sit down as they were having trouble seeing they had no camera and I was happy to oblige and apologized to them.

JCam Loc: MD Eastern Shore

I wholeheartedly agree that some photographers who totally lack any sense of courtesy and common sense have forced some sites to ban all amateur photography because of the damage they cause and messes they leave behind. HOWEVER, banning photography at National Monuments and Parks is, in my opinion, a 'way over the top' reaction. Who do they think paid for the monuments, their upkeep and care? It was our forebears & ourselves through taxes, and will continue by our next of kin through their taxes.

The only reactions I can think of that I consider even worse was O'bama's banning people from parking along a state road through a western state park (don't remember the name), in a state maintained parking area, so vacationing tourists could not stop, view and photograph the Five Presidential figures carved into the side of a mountain during the Government Shutdown a few years back and blaming the shortage funds. That was a lot of C___P; there were no Federal Park Service employees in the parking area! Another egregious example was his attempt to close the new WW II memorial in DC when a group of vets, some handicapped from war wounds, came to visit; fortunately they had the 'stones' to take down the barricades and go on their own tour, and were praised for it!

President Regan had it right when he said that the government can't solve most problems because government is the problem!

goolgol Loc: Sydney, Australia

Its all part of the 'me' generation. I grew up in an earlier era when values were different and common courtesy prevailed. We stood up for older people on the bus and stepped aside for ladies to enter first, and above all respected other peoples' property. Wow, that must make me an old fossil!

Bozsik Loc: Orangevale, California

burkphoto Loc: High Point, NC

We are only young once. We should have SOME fun. We who survived, unscathed, with diplomas, and without a criminal record, passed the test for successful adulthood!

Photographer Jim Loc: Rio Vista, CA

I know of no National Park or monument where photography is banned, other than restrictions on the use of drones (partly due to a photographer like the ones being discussed here, who flew one into the Grand Prismatic Hot Spring in Yellowstone NP), and the need to secure a permit for commercial photography sessions. Only once have I seen a photographer approached by a park ranger and asked to move; he had set up his tripod in the exact center of a trail to a popular park overlook and was obstructing access (no problem, he apologized and moved to a location suggested by the ranger.

As to the other two stories, I find no reference to any state park having an attraction such as the one mentioned. Hard to fathom the country's chief executive ordering parking regulations in a state park where the jurisdiction would be held by the state's park service, not federal. But if you can find me a link I'd like to take a look. Sounds too much like typical internet misinformation to accept without some verification.

Jim Bob

My original comment specified paid events. But it's ridiculous to ban cameras from free sites simply because people act like fools. Even fools can own guns and in some states are permitted to tote them around in public like it's the Wild West. But they would be prohibited from carrying a camera in certain venues. It's stupid. And there is no cure for it whether it is the authorities or the general public that suffer from this chronic malady.

Quixdraw Loc: x

No one is required to fly with the flock -- even on tours (which I generally avoid) it is possible to shoot around. If there are of lots of photogs and cell phones "enthusiasts" I go elsewhere. Cut your own trail.

Jim Bob

Exactly. Much better advice than to bellyache about the ubiquity of idiots.

CAS1951 Loc: San Diego

EddieC Loc: CT

I used to shoot weddings during the ancient age of film. It wasn't a problem but I pity the fool trying to shoot weddings now. I know many pros have a line in their contracts about other people taking pics, but it has gotten really crazy. I recently went to a church wedding and the pro was barred from getting up close shots of the vows by the minister, but everyone in the church was shooting away.