attention! Machu Picchu will persecute good photographers!!

[ecolodger]

Hello everyone!


I just wanted to share something very unpleasant that happened to me last week at Machu Picchu's entrance:

1. They charge you 300 USd for bringing your tripod into their Inca city. Their argument is that tripods are for professionals only. this is not specified ANYWHERE, not even in the INC' Web ( gov. body responsable for MP)

2. There is a lens debate: ANY lens over 200mm is considered professional, and thus must also pay the 300 Usd.

THEREFORE I took my Sony A900 with its 50mm 1.4 and but to leave my Manfrotto in the entry. On the other hand, my travel parther travelling with an A200 (!!!!!!!) with the Kit 18-250mm HAD TO PAY the 300 Usd to take his camera to Machu Picchu, given that was his only lens and it had a focal lenght over 200 mm ( and that.... was supposed to be professional).

This is a warning to all photo travellers to reconsider Peru as a destination, given that tourists are considered as "bags of bucks" by the locals. I loved their scenery, but the trip had too many "little" negative points, which added altogether makes one reconsider such a spending during these times of crisis...

[Bonish Photo]

WOW...Good to know.

I know I've encountered this many times at tourist destinations in the USofA, but I cant imagine traveling all the way to Peru and finding this information out at the entrance gate!

Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum

[gldiana]

I was in Machu Picchu just one year ago and I didn't encounter that problem. I just had to check the backpack at the entrance because it was too big, and frankly I would have struggled hiking Waina Picchu with it. Is it something new?

[ecolodger]

Ciao Luca!
Forse mi hanno visto comme un faccia da pirla!

[gldiana]

[samchadwick]

I was there a couple of years ago and they didn't have any such rules. What a shame.
Here's the shot I got while there that shows the whole site quite nicely for those that haven't been.
http://www.samchadwickphoto.com/portfolio-landscapes.html#id=album-42&num=10

[ecolodger]

After all, its not that I tried to enter the monument with a 6 foot Sinar or some large format tripod. It was only a 190 Series Manfrotto. I was naive not to hide it......

[Tusker]

WOW...Good to know.

I know I've encountered this many times at tourist destinations in the USofA, but I cant imagine traveling all the way to Peru and finding this information out at the entrance gate!

Thanks for the info and welcome to the forum

JUST WHERE IN THE USA HAVE YOU FOUND THIS RIPOFF????

[Bonish Photo]

Biltmore House, almost any zoo that you try and enter wont allow tripods and almost any museum or indoor monument wont allow them either.

Detroit Zoo, Cincinatti Zoo and Palm Beach Zoo all had rules against use of tripods. I brought mine in anyway, but got approached when we were in the Aveary at the Detroit Zoo and asked to leave because I had the tripod. Sort of funny because I saw probably 3 other photographers who either had monopods or tripods. So I think it's one of those rules where they have it listed, but not inforce it all too much unless one of the Rangers see you like they did me

Biltmore was the one place I would have really liked it, but they even have a sign at the door stating that NO PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS ALLOWED

[ecolodger]

But that's my point! They had a sign stating " no professional cameras allowed".
In my case I ended up in a banana republic and the guy looked at my face and said " 300 bucks"". I'll scan my entrance ticked and show that is not written anywhere.....

[Tusker]

OK, I have heard of no tripods, supposed to be a safety thing. Guess there ARE fools that would trip over them? Mono-pod seem to work, sometimes.
NO PROFESSIONAL CAMERAS ? What is THAT supposed to mean? Any camera that is worth over $25.00 is a PROFESSIONAL CAMERA?? Sounds like a lot of BS to me. Maybe someone should get sued for discrimination against a PROFESSIONAL CAMERA? Some museums claim it is to keep thieves for taking photos, then returning to steal things? Guess it has happened. Everyone has a scam but me. I have also heard of lens limits, but that ranks up there with a PROFESSIONAL CAMERA

[ecolodger]

mmm.... professional cameras.... you know what.. After 15 years living in South America, I'd define a "pro Camera" as being a Reflex, be it a D40 or a D3x.
I've came many times over definitions of Professional equipment.

Too bad that to be a "professional" in such countries you don't even need high school.....

[Bonish Photo]

That's the beauty of having a couple of normal lenses in the truck and being able to remove the grip on the bodies.

I walked up with the grip on the 30D and a 24-70 f/2.8 lens. Its got a 82mm sized front element, so it looks like a big nice lens. They looked at my gear and said "No Professional Cameras!"

I walked back to the truck, took the grip off, put on a 28-105 lens that is just your basic f3.5/5.6 and has a dinky 52mm front element. I walked back up and walked right in and they never gave me a second look.

I just bumped up my ISO to make due with not having the f2.8 capabilities and had a fun day shooting.

There is a huge arguement on the Professional Camera thing on another forum I frequent and its funny to hear everyone yelling about it.

Although we were just applying to a big concert for this summer and the press requirements state in bold "Photo Passes will only be given to those with a Professional DSLR with a removable lens - No Point and Shoots allowed and security will be watching out for this!"

I thought that was about time! I was shooting in the press pit at Bonnaroo which was a very hard pass to get and some yahoo beside me is in there with a photo wristband and is taking pictures with a cameraphone!?!? Now how on Earth did he get photo passes? The guy on the other side of me has two Digital Hassleblads slung around his neck ($39,000 a piece ) and we're both looking at this guy with his cellphone shaking our heads.

[ecolodger]

Mmm. I know what you mean. I'm no pro, just an "researcher" for the field. Anyway, the other day a friend came with this 12MP Sony Cell phone: You just don't see those pixels shine!!

Ah! by the way, let me share some of the pics I took In Perú.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/ecologer/

Note that the HDR photos are not true HDRs, but pseudo HDR, given the lack of the tripod.
In any case, besides this screw-up in Machu picchu's entrance, the trip wasn't that bad. I'd give it a solid C+. Next summer indeed I might offer a photo workshop in Perú, but definitivelly not in Machu Picchu nor the Sacred Valley. Their jungle is astonishing and the crocodiles don't charge 300 bucks for a photo... just maybe a leg or two...

[lewinp]

I've had this same issue at zoos and some butterly gardens when i have my ring strobe. My go-to response, that never fails to get people to back down, is "No, I'm not a professional - I am an attorney on vacation."