Forest board pro photo rule absurd
The decision of the DuPage County Forest Preserve board to charge photographers an absurd fee of $200 dollars a day (Daily Herald, Dec. 22) has got to be the most incompetent action they have taken to date. They are penalizing the people who use the public lands.
Photography is an art, whether it is a photographer taking portraits, news events, capturing wildlife or taking pictures of the wonderful architecture found at facilities like St. James Farm, Klein Creek Farm or Graue Mill. It takes talent, knowledge, a good eye for detail, and in the case of wildlife, patience to capture a picture.
Now I have to ask someone at the board what the definition of a “professional” photographer is? I have a website, I have photos for sale (and have made them available to the forest preserve district for free), I don’t do it full time, I sell maybe one photo a year from the site and I lose money on it. Does that make me a professional? I guess by their definition it does.
Most of the photographers I know don’t do it for a living, they do it because they love to see how far they can take their abilities. What the board also fails to realize is what this talented group shares with the public is the best free advertising they have.
It is my belief that this current board is more interested in keeping their salaries where they are and not being true stewards of the land. If they were, they wouldn’t be so intent on charging fees to those of us who not only pay taxes already but support the true mission of the district to preserve and protect open space. It’s time for the board to rethink and repeal the fee on photographers.
Ray Vegter
Carol Stream