Re: Taking Photos While On Rides

I have entered a heavy discussion on another board about taking photos while on coasters. One poster semi-brags about taking pics while riding and I said that I didn't approve of that kind of behavior and that the site was only encouraging him by posting his photos on their site. Some of them on the other board claim that there are many parks that allow this as long as you don't try to sell the pics or videos taken and you have the park's permission. The example given was SFMM. I have always felt that this was somewhat dangerous and could lead to others getting injured. Of course, they made the claim that they could secure the camera and no one was in danger.

I followed by saying that there is no way they could be 100% sure that it was secure and it could wind up hitting someone in the face or otherwise. I just wanted some opinions and if anybody knows if any park allows you to take cameras on rides. I just kinda figured it was frowned upon by all parks.

It's also frowned upon by all responsible enthusiasts.

I doubt the rules of any park allow taking cameras on rides. Just because the ride ops ignore you and your camera doesn't make it right.

Even if a park wanted to allow cameras on rides, their insurance company would never allow it. I don't see how any responsible person (enthusiast or not) can justify risking injury to others to get a POV shot on a coaster. No matter how well you THINK your camera is secured, there is always a chance of it getting away from you.

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Downhill Screamer said:
No matter how well you THINK your camera is secured, there is always a chance of it getting away from you.

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Yea, and more importantly hitting someone in the head and possibly killing someone if you are on a ride like the Force or Dragster.

Occasionally at ACE events, some parks will allow cameras on ride but only during scheduled ERT. I guess they figure that if a camera gets away and whacks someone, that person knew what they were getting into, being on a train full of crazy enthusiasts ;)

Exactly, Heath...

I would NEVER film without *express* permission, and a SECURE wrist strap. But I'd also hate to not have my POVs of Starliner and Zippin Pippin....esp. now that Starliner's fate seems sealed...:(

Bottom line, there is a risk in EVERYTHING you do....be smart and minimize the risks...;)

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Den said:
It's also frowned upon by all responsible enthusiasts. I doubt the rules of any park allow taking cameras on rides. Just because the ride ops ignore you and your camera doesn't make it right.

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As an occasional on ride photographer, I dispute that.

I only take photographs on ride when I have expressly asked for permission from the ride operations staff, and if I'm told no, I put the camera away. When I do take the camera on board, it is always secured via a strap, and in one park (BonBon-Land) the ride operators attached it even more firmly with tape. It should be noted that the only park in the United States I've been granted permission to photograph on ride in was Bells in Tulsa. All the others have been in Europe -- probably because we're less lawyer-happy than those across the pond.

At any rate, I have posted some of my on ride photos on my web site, linked below, all of which were taken with permission.

I was in a park a short time ago where I asked about taking my camera on the ride, and was given explicit permission to do so.

The rules very from park to park, and even from ride to ride. The bottom line is this:

a) Always, always, always operate in a safe, responsible manner
b) Abide by the rules of the park and ride in question.

I don't understand why people make this into such a complicated issue. Either it is permitted or it is not. If it is permitted, do it safely. If it is not permitted, don't do it.

--Dave Althoff, Jr.

I can hold a camera without dropping it on any coaster. If you are uncertain of yourself, then I guess it's good you know your limitations. Having said that, I would not do it at a park that had a rule against it, but I have no problem with it at parks that don't.

On most websites with lots of ride photos you will find some pics taken on the rides. I honestly don't think it is that big a deal and it is not something to get worked up over.

what about all the on ride photos in the past by ACE members and the general public? i have never heard of a camera or video camera injuring anybody since i've been a coaster enthusiast (joined ACE in 1989) and been riding coasters since 1965.

For me, it's not so much the whole dropping a camera/injuring someone thing.

It's as simple as a vast majority parks don't allow it under normal circumstances.

I'm all for POV in an approved environment - even though I personally find POV shots incredibly boring and uncreative.

It's the breaking of rules and going against the wishes of the parks that gets me.

I'd rather not see the park/enthusiast relationship damaged over a few POV shots.

It's a respect issue, not a safety one.

People have been injured in the past.

RavenTTD, your statement sounds like the type of thing I hear from people who are too drunk to drive. "I can drive when I am drunk, I will be fine." 99% of the time maybe you can hold onto your camera, but what if your "secure" strap breaks and it slips? The camera could come lose and hit some one behind you.

Coasterbuzzer, what did you think you would get out of this topic? If everyone was for it would you start breaking the park rules? I am just curious. I have only been a member here for a little over a year and have seen this discussed a lot.

^ Dude, try re-reading my first post. Maybe then you will get a clue. I said that I was against it and that the "other" site was only encouraging them by posting their pics. They started jumping on me by saying that they knew they were in control of their camera and there was no way it would come loose or injure anyone.

Of course, I said that there was no way to be 100% sure that the camera was secure. My real question was, are there parks that allow pics to be taken while riding without permission. Maybe I should have made that clearer. *** Edited 11/24/2004 8:15:43 PM UTC by Coasterbuzzer*** *** Edited 11/24/2004 8:16:45 PM UTC by Coasterbuzzer***

i had a friend who in the late 80's used to bring one of those giant vhs camcorders on just about every coaster. the video would come out all broken up and the sound was distorted. fortunately, he brought it to blackpool and it is the only footage of the coasters and the funhouse that i've ever seen. of course the insurance companies are at the root of it. but i have never taken a camera or a video recorder on ANY coaster.

The only time that I ever asked to have a camera on a ride was at Knoebel's on the Phoenix for our wedding. We were in the 2nd seat, and my friend took pictures from the 6th or 7th row. We actually got some pretty good pictures. My uncle also took video of the whole ceremony until the brake run from the front seat.

I understand the safety aspect, and agree with it. I myself wouldn't take pics while riding. At SFA while riding I had my lighter in my shirt pocket(that I thought was secure)and it got loose after the last helix. I was in the front seat, and it hit a rider on the head a few rows back. That person had a big lump on the top of his head.

I can only imagine what kind of damage a camera could do. As others have said as long as they have permission, and it is done safely its ok in my book. I just wouldn't do it myself. I agree with Gonchar that the pictures are much more pretty when the person is being more creative then taking POV.

i don't know of any park that would allow that.
heck, on some coasters, they don';t even like women to wear large hoop earings...

Coasterbuzzer, I was just curious why you were bringing the discussion here.

I am sure there are parks that allow it, just not many, and surely not any park chain.

I'm sort of sick of the whole "there's no way you can be sure that you've secured it" issue. That just isn't true.

I've worked in the industry for a decade and a half now. I can count the cameras that've gotten loose on one hand. I don't have enough fingers and toes to count cell phones that I find every night.

It's much safer to have a camera strap around your body/wrist than to have a phone, change, keys, etc. in your pocket.

Someone said it above, and if I wasn't quite so lazy I'd scroll up and see who... it's about respecting the park's rules.

It's the same reason you don't smoke on the midways at Holiday World or drink beer at Kennywood.

Can it be unsafe? Of course. Is it intrinsically unsafe? No.

Whoa....what happened? I swear like 5 minutes ago I posted something here? If it was deleted then that's cool and everything, I'm just confused. :)

Don't worry about it Kyle..........it was just a couple of rants. :-) I am over it. Thanks for the post though. :-)

-Tina

*** Edited 11/24/2004 11:33:20 PM UTC by coasterqueenTRN***