FTW Zoo Question

[MHampton]

I was just poking around at the FTW Zoo web site, and I read their current photography policy. It states:

By entering the Fort Worth Zoo, all guests, patrons, employees and volunteers agree that
photographs and videos of animals and other property at the Fort Worth Zoo may not be
used for commercial profit (i.e., financial gain), for publicity, or for any other purpose
that commercially or publicly exploits the photos and videos, including posting the

images on the Internet.

Question is, does that mean that you can't post images taken at the zoo anywhere on the internet? Or does it mean you can't post the pictures on the internet for the purposes of making money?

Very curious about this.

[photosteve]

You can always email and ask. I read it as you cant go to the zoo take pictures and sell them anywhere. Its like not having a release for your picture. I'm sure if you pay them they would release your photos.

[jeffro20]

Doesn't seem to hold much water here as images have been posted here several times from the zoo.

When I read that a year ago, it struck me funny as well. Seems a shame they don't want any free publicity by hobbyists or pros sharing photos on various internet sites.

[Tom]

Doubt it would hold up, but they could bar you from the premesis if they really cared, which I doubt they do.

[Rson]

I see many photogs at the FTW zoo and I would consider them very Photog Friendly. The season pass is very worth it.

[Nikonfan]

Originally Posted by Rson

I see many photogs at the FTW zoo and I would consider them very Photog Friendly. The season pass is very worth it.

I agree. Every time I go I see photogs with 400mm lenses on monopods. I have neve been or seen anyone hassled while there. I had a season pass last year but haven't renewed yet.

[MHampton]

Funny thing is that I just finished a book by Rick Sammon and he had pictures from the FTW Zoo in his book. :)

I'm wondering what they will do if I show up with my (soon to be) 600 to practice. :)

I just thought it was worded in such a way that if you were posting something they didn't like they could say "Yes, that's what we meant. You can't do that." I think I'll give them a call.

[brad]

The point of the policy is to explicitly NOT grant a "property release" for images of animals or other property of the zoo.

As such, you can not resell the images in any way, including (but not limited to) reprints or stock sales.

Posting images on your blog or forums with a "this is what I did at the zoo" kind of purpose falls under editorial use and is not restricted by this policy. You should, as a matter of ethics, disclose that the images were made at the Fort Worth Zoo and the animals were captive.

[MHampton]

Originally Posted by brad

The point of the policy is to explicitly NOT grant a "property release" for images of animals or other property of the zoo.

As such, you can not resell the images in any way, including (but not limited to) reprints or stock sales.

Posting images on your blog or forums with a "this is what I did at the zoo" kind of purpose falls under editorial use and is not restricted by this policy. You should, as a matter of ethics, disclose that the images were made at the Fort Worth Zoo and the animals were captive.

Thanks for the clarification Brad. And yes, I agree, trying to pass off a zoo tiger as one that you tracked in the jungle is just plain wrong. I recently read Moose Peterson's book "Captured" and he comes down very strong on this subject with wildlife photos, to the extent that he won't even crop his wildlife shots. What you see is what he saw.

[brad]

There is a "wildlife photographer" who recently (within the last week) got in trouble for passing off stock images of animals that he photochopped into backgrounds..

[MHampton]

I saw that. Didn't they say he won EPA Photographer of the year in 2010 and they made him give it back. His quote that got me was "I'm amazed that I got away with it as long as I did." Wow! Doesn't sound like there is even any remorse.

[brad]

I think there was some remorse... but I think it was more of a sorry he got caught than it was a sorry he did it.