Cameras and coasters - CoasterBuzz

Why is it that some parks don't allow pictures to be taken of their coasters? I can understand forbidding on-ride photo or video taking because of the safety factor, but I have seen some ride ops turn people away from taking pictures of the ride loading from the station. Why would they do that? What's the harm?

Were the "photographers" interfering with loading etc? (holding up the loading procedure to get pics of their friends on the ride, etc?)

Of the parks that I have been to and had my camera with me(IOA, BGT, BGW, Dorney, Hershey, Dutchwonderland, Lakemont), I never had any problems. Only a few pics were taken in the stations (a shot of the lift hill and return bunny hops on Steel Force at Dorney, a shot of the lift hill of Sky Princess at Dutch Wonderland, several shots in the station of Leap The Dips at Lakemont). I have several shots taken from the queue lines of various coasters.

My wife (who is not quite as wild about coasters as I am) sometimes stands by the area near the station with the camera... that's how all of my "on ride photos" are taken.

Hmmmmmmm.... could that be it? A snap shot on your own camera will cost you about 30 cents to get developed... not the $8 or so that the parks will soak you for an on ride photo... and also that money will not be going into the park's pockets either.

*** This post was edited by SLFAKE on 5/14/2002. ***

That could be one possible reason, SFLAKE. From what I've understood from people's descriptions of this, it doesn't have anything to do with the queing or loading process.....in other words, it wasn't being interfered with. It seems to be mainly at Six Flags parks that this tends to happen. Maybe you're right and it is a money issue.

Why do I think Lallen has been to Six Flags at Geauga Lake.......

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

Hey, I got harassed outside of the park in the picnic area taking photos of Villain for ECC's First Drop. It wouldn't surprise me.

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Jeff - Webmaster/Admin - CoasterBuzz.com, Sillynonsense.com
"As far as I can tell it doesn't matter who you are. If you can believe, there's something worth fighting for..." - Garbage, "Parade"

I've never had that sort of problem at any of the parks that I've been to which include PKD, SFA,BGW and HP, I've got plenty of in station photo's of most of the coasters with exception of Batwing at SFA I even took an on ride pic of wild one back in 96 while still moving on the brake run exiting the helix.Now I've heard quite a bit on SFWOA's picture policies and can't figure out what they've got against taking pictures of thier rides from the park midways,I'm glad SFA & PKD aren't like that.

I can see why it is not safe to take them on coasters or most rides. But you aren't allowed to take them on some Ferris Wheels too. Is it just me, or is the point of a ferris wheel to get a great veiw? Why not capture it?!? It is a relaxing ride.

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I wonder if that SFWOA picture policy will change under new management though. It seems from all the trip reports that they have been trying to make many positive changes this year.

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Bob Hansen

A proud CoasterBuzz Member
"We are not responsible for anything the Demon takes or breaks"

Thing is, the Geauga Lake picture "policy" was not, is not, and has never been park policy. That didn't stop certain park personnel from trying to enforce it!

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

"Turn the camera off, NOW!"
"Um, what, you mean I can't film the ride?"
"No, you cannot, turn the camera off NOW!"

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|| Jonathan Hawkins ||
http://www.starcoasters.com
Top Gun: TJC flights - Approx. 240 (54 in 2002)

This isn't a coaster, but I worked on DareDevil Dive at SFGAm, and we had people taking cameras up to the lift all the time. They didn't take 'em on the ride, but sometimes you could get a nice expiditer who would snap a pic...

I think...

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"Getting on Iron Wolf is kind of like going in a blender and pressing PUREE"

StarCoasters said:
"Turn the camera off, NOW!"
"Um, what, you mean I can't film the ride?"
"No, you cannot, turn the camera off NOW!"

In line for S:UE:

"Turn off the camera, we're within 5 feet of the ride and they'll freak out...I'm gonna get in trouble for talking about the camera, OK???"

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My two favorite coasters are named Superman.

I guess I'm not the only one that got screamed at for taking pictures there!

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- Peabody

Geez, some real horror stories there. I've yet to encounter this sort of thing. I always have this nervous feeling in the back of my mind though, like any second someone's going to seriously question my standing there changing lenses and snapping photos. Pull out the tripod and you'll really get people's attention. So far most of my experience has been very positive as far as park's and employee's are concerned.

I have a suspicion that the way you approach in makes a world of difference.

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www.coasterimage.com

RideMan said:
Thing is, the Geauga Lake picture "policy" was not, is not, and has never been park policy. That didn't stop certain park personnel from trying to enforce it!

Absolute power may corrupt absolutely, but apparently a *tiny* amount of "authoritah" can get you even further if you really want it to...;)

SFWOA is just nuts IMO. Personally, I don't see problems with it... in fact at SFOG, there is no policy about taking pictures when you're not on a ride (as long as you stay on the paths).

I think it's just a Six Flags thing, I'm telling you. I had no resistance taking pics of the Incredible Hulk coaster and DD at IOA whatsoever. I think someone should broach this subject with Six Flags execs and see what they have to say on the reasoning behind this. Maybe someone with some "ACE" pull.....

To those who were quoting from Robb Alvey's video.......that's exactly what prompted me to post this subject. It reminded me that I had heard of such incidents before. ;)

*** This post was edited by Lallen on 5/15/2002. ***

Maybe if some people weren't bringing cameras ON rides, where they just DO NOT belong, then responsible photography around the rides would be OK in some of these places.

Parks provide wonderful places for us to ride, they're not photo studios, they have no obligation to provide people with the oppurtuntities to photograph their stuff. Like I said earlier, there are some who have ruined it for the responsible ones.

I enjoy photographing what I photograph, & if they ever come over & tell me ANYWHERE to stop what I'm doing, that's pretty much it. I did pay for park admission, therefore I am agreeing to certain things, & I shouldn't think that I shouldn't listen to whoever tells me to stop. They work there, I don't, I'm not gonna go through & analyze the rules on the situation. When people know better than taking cameras ON the rides, LOL, there will hardly ever be instinces of this.

Lallen -- that's just it, it ISN'T a Six Flags policy. Cameras are perfectly welcome at Six Flags parks, as long as you don't use them on-ride (with good reason). At SFWoA last year some of the staff arbitrarily decided that this policy extended to taking pictures of the park AT ALL (I saw it as well, and when I commented on it at the Guest Services booth by the gate was told "The person who told you that was wrong")

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--Greg
"Are you justified in taking life to save life?" -- The Great Debate, Dream Theater
My page

The worst time for me may have been at Carowinds and we were going backwards on Thunder Road and the Ride op was starting to come after me when I got off. But my friend and I darted into a arcade and lost him. Gave us a good scare though.

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Coaster M and M
Ride On!