Zion National Park Bans Tripods in Photo Workshops [Updated]
Update: The policy is reportedly less restrictive than the original report claimed. See update below.
Zion National Park has banned tripods in photography workshops. The newly unveiled regulations will affect commercial photographers visiting the popular photography area in Utah.
Fstoppers reports that the park has had some restrictions on the use of tripods since 2016, but they were still permitted on certain trails and in select areas of the park. As of 2018, there are now no areas where they are permitted except paved parking areas and pullouts.
The ban is apparently to prevent photographers from getting in the way of the “general visiting public” in the park.
“Permittees are responsible for the conduct of their clients and must advise clients to stay on trails, walk single file, and allow the public to pass,” the new regulations state.
You can read the new rules in full here:
The banning of tripods could be a big hindrance to landscape photographers due to how invaluable tripods are in shooting tack-sharp photos of the great outdoors. The lack of a three-legged support also means exploring more creative photographic options will be harder. Things like long exposures, panoramas, and HDR photos may be much more difficult to shoot, and nighttime photography workshops themselves are banned due to the restriction:
“Since nighttime photography requires the use of tripods and tripods are not authorized on park trails, nighttime photography is not authorized on park trails,” the policy states.
Do keep in mind, though, that the new guidelines don’t apply to you if you’re a hobbyist photographer visiting Zion National Park — it’s only a restriction on photography in a commercial capacity and in the context of a photo workshop.
Update on 1/24/18: Photographer Don Smith reached out to the same representative at Zion National Park and heard different information — that tripods aren’t banned. Smith reports that Zion will be issuing clarification for this policy in the coming weeks, and that tripods are only banned on paved trails and pathways where the general public walks.
Update on 1/30/18: Zion National Park has released an official clarification on its current tripod policies:
Dear Commercial Photography Workshop Operators,
We’re contacting you in order to clarify park rules on the use of photography equipment, specifically tripods, in Zion National Park. Misleading information on this topic was posted to several social media websites during January 15, 2018 and January 16, 2018,
There are regulations for Commercial Photography Workshops that are different than for park visitors engaged in photography independently as hobbyists. Visitors not engaged in a Commercial Photography Workshop may use tripods and other photography equipment without restriction throughout the park. The exception being the use of drones, which are prohibited from use in the park.
Participants in Commercial Photography Workshop groups, may only use tripods in designated areas of the park, such as road side pullouts. Because of the workshop group sizes, the use of tripods on park trails, including the Narrows, is not authorized so as to not impede access of other visitors not associated with the workshops, thereby preventing trail congestion, potential safety concerns in some areas, and to mitigate environmental effects. Large groups concentrated in one place can result in trampling of vegetation, soil erosion, widening of formal trails, and impact other visitors’ experience of the natural views and soundscapes along these trails.
In order to reduce roadway safety concerns for all photographers on the Canyon Junction Road Bridge, the use of tripods on the Pa’rus Trail will soon be added to the 2018 conditions of use for Commercial Photography Workshops. Otherwise, the conditions of use for commercial photography workshops are unchanged from 2017.
Your continued efforts to promote stewardship of Zion National Park and to provide quality visitor experiences is appreciated. Please let us know if we can be of additional assistance.
Sincerely,
Philip Arrington
Concession Management Specialist
Zion National Park
