Oyster Bay Long Island New York--No More Feng Shui?
There is always so much to see and do in the lovely town of Oyster Bay Long Island and I spend a great deal of time there. I often write about it and show pictures of my favorite places.
That ended today. Despite the cold temperatures, Laura and I decided to stop for a breath of fresh air on our way back from a Feng Shui Consultation. One of our favorite places is The Planting Fields, a historic site in Oyster Bay New York.
In New York if you want to visit many places, you must pay an Entrance Fee. Seems fair and we're used to them rising every year. If you want to visit Jones Beach in Wantagh Long Island, you pay a fee. Most parks are like that as well and we both purchase passes each year so we don't have to pay every time we'd like to stop for a few minutes at a place.
Back to Oyster Bay...and the Planting Fields. Aside from an admission into the park, if you'd like to tour COE HALL, the beautiful historic mansion on the site, there is an additional fee.
We really just wanted to stop and see the Greenhouses. The Main Greenhouse in the Planting Fields is just beautiful and it's the place we go to reconnect with Nature. The camera is always nearby.
THIS is what we found today:
I will call tomorrow but I'm presuming now that if you'd like to take pictures, there will be a fee for that as well. It's the SEOND time this week we were not permitted to take pictures, one being in the beautiful town of Port Jefferson on the North Shore of Long Island.
What is going ON? It's Sunday....and I was almost speechless :: )
Hmmm, This COULD have been from last year.....
I believe this New York Feng Shui Consultant will head back to Central Park-to my knowledge you can still take pictures there for free!
*Carole Provenzale has been a Certified Feng Shui Consultant since 1997 and along with Laura Cerrano are the Founders of Feng Shui Long Island & New York providing Feng Shui Consultations for all of New York City, Queens, Long Island and Online/Phone Consultations for those at a distance for homes, offices, businesses, corporations, renovations, and new construction.
Wow love the photographs - Carole Marti Must have helped you with your page....it looks so snazzy and professional......i'm thinking I should be dropping him an email! :-)
Carole- I too loved the photos, and I empathize with you and the fees. In Europe we had to pay at most places to be able to take photos. Can't say I like it, but was used to it. In most of our Tourist places here they have rules that you can't take photos for commercial purposes and seems like that would include Blogs.
Carole -- frustrating to say the least, the new fees. Guess it is the surprize of change from a situation as it used to be. or it's my sense of privilege that gets me going when I run into situations like this! BUT -- I loved that LAST YEAR photo!
how odd is that? Why would they charge someone a fee to take photographs. A family on vacation can't take a picture - that's just over the top. I do need to take my camera with me more often. I keep threatening - but haven't done it yet.
Carole ~ That's crazy! Why are they going to charge to take a picture? I have always seen people taking pictures down in Port Jeff - the architecture of the buildings is a favorite, so I didn't know about them. What if you are on vacation and taking a picture of a friend or loved one, does that count?
I wish I could have met you when you were in Port Jeff - my day job is right in the Village!
Hi Carole,
It's frustrating, isn't it? I can understand the fees since many local governments have cut their funding to parks and museums, but no photos?!
Really. I thoughtthat was for like wedding pics or something. I guess everyone is trying to find money anywhere thy can but this is ridiculous.
I ran into this type of thing a couple weeks ago in Durham. I was on the SIDEWALK and taking photos of some of the buildings and businesses. FOUR times I was approached by security guards asking me if I had permission to take photos. I politely told them that from a public sidewalk I didn't need permission to take photos of the exterior of buildings that are already in the public view. They weren't happy with my attitude.
Since the Planting Fields and the mansion are on private property I do believe they can restrict your ability to take photos. It might be fun to get their 'application' and see what it says. There are some pretty cut and dried laws protecting photography and if they are violating them it might help to point that out to them.
Isn't it sad that the possibility of a consumer/amateur photography buff has to apply to take photos of a popular tourist area?
Carole,
What a bummer! Guess we can chalk it up to the "economic times".
Those photo is awesome and I have felt like I have been with you when you have share your experiences at Oyster Bay. When I was put on a terror watch list for taking pictures last summer in Kingston, New Hampshire, I suggested that the AR gods issue a press kit and permits to all AR bloggers! It looks like the time has come! (lol).
Interesting....I guess this is there idea of creating a stimulus package for themselves!
Carole--I am afraid this will become the norm as so many are making money from photographic images. Sad as your photos and blog probably boost the attendance and give publicity to some lesser known places in NYC.
Carole, this is interesting. I read a post this morning on a photographer who went out of business as she said everyone has a digital camera and everyone takes their own photos. It was on Marc Davison post on 1000 Watts if you want to read.
Carole - Gorgeous photos! I can understand paying fees to enter these places but paying one just to take photos is unbelievable. I would have been speechless too!
Liz, That's Marti's work all right. He's pretty distinctive and he did a fabulous job with setting this up for me. (And has the patience of a saint!).
Kathy, I am promoting them AND the town! They get an admission fee for everyone who sees the post and is encouraged to visit. I don't believe I should have to pay MORE money for photos. (I didn't get charged anywhere in Paris :)
Alexsandra, Ah yes, LAST YEAR'S photo :) I think it's absurd to charge even more and will discourage me from going there. I do believe people may find them or be encouraged to go there from my posts--in which case they're making money from me.
Kate, I almost never leave home without it anymore. And when I do, I'm usually sorry. There are so many pretty or unusual sights I could have shared....make it part of wherever you go, like your purse.
Kathy, I knew you were somewhere near Pt. Jeff but it was yesterday, on Sunday so you wouldn't have been at your day job. I was concentrating on trying to get a shot of Danbury's and realized someone was yelling at me. He told me I coudln't take pictures but did not explain why when I asked. I got a few of the pier but love Danbury's and wanted to show it :(
Marzena, There were flowers I was shooting. It's the beauty of the place and the old homes. No flowers? That doesn't make any sense to me.
Paddy, Twice is one week is even more ridiculous. I love showing Long Island and actually promote these places. I also pay for the season pass (Empire Pass) every year so I don't have to pay every time I go--which WAS often.
Carol, What is that that we can't take pictures? Are we not promoting THEM? Driving business to the area possibly? You were on a public sidewalk and you were able to stand your ground but I was yelled at in Pt. Jefferson (another popular place on Long Island) for taking pictures--I was on the Pier and he did not tell me WHY although I asked. Goodness, I'll go back to Central Park!
Cynthia, Another way to look at it is that I come up fairly high in Google Searches for Oyster Bay. The beauty would help attact business to them--I have to wonder who is losing out here.
Joan, That is a fantastic idea, I would love to get something from AR that says we are VERIFIED BLOGGERS! Please don't tell me YOU were put on a terrorist watch list--my goodness, I have to wonder what is going on here!
Bill, I'd say they are going to lose a few regulars....I don't believe it will HELP them, maybe just the opposite.
Teri, I am all over the place and take pictures. If one place won't allow me, it's easy enough to go to a place that will. I'm sorry, I don't agree with this one at ALL.
Missy, What a shame. I am certainly not professional but I should be permitted to take pictures of Flowers. I'm sad to hear that photographers are going out of business, I hadn't heard that and thank you for the information to look it up.
Donna, I give up :) There are so many places I can go to take pictures AND promote the area.....I am already paying so much for the "priveledge" of visiting these parks.
Carole- we were going to go to the Honda Classic to take some great photos for our blog, but the notice on their ticket blog said not even cell phones were going to be allowed in to the event! Needless to say, I did not even go since we were not going to be able to even take photos with our phone!
Carole- They are cutting off their noses to spite their faces. These places need to understand that by passing photos all around, more people want to go. Look at the Grateful Dead. They became the biggest box office band because they were the first to allow video taping of their concerts. People post those on you tube and sales go up, not down! It is all about going viral. But of course, how can you get those folks to understand that!
On our recent cruise, they required permits for taking videos at Chichen Itza, but not for photos. That is really crazy! As you said, Central Park has abundant photo ops, but this should not be your only option....
Hi Carole...I hope you have plenty of pictures from LAST YEAR!
What they may gain in fees for photographs will be lost when people do not want to return. Seems shortsighted to me.
Now you will have to discover other places in your area where you are free to take and share pictures with everyone. You can meet this challenge.
Kate
I am glad you can still take pictures at Central Park. We are not allowed to take pictures inside most temples in India.
Carole,
That's very sad. I know that some cities do not allow pictures now of certain areas due to terrorists, however I hadn't heard of any such thing with respect to gardens or parks....or a town??
Jo
Katerina, It's a reason I don't attend some events as well. Of course I still go to concerts but we are never allowed to take photos. You're absolutely right about them taking the loss, I do believe my blogs promote these beautiful places and makes others want to go. Btw, I didn't know that about the Grateful Dead :)
Cheryl, Why did they need permits? I don't understand getting yelled out when I was out East, either. I was taking pictures of a popular NY restaurant....from across the street and had to stop. We'd better be careful, it's the picture police!
Kate, Long Island is beautiful, I have lots of places to go. It's just a shame to me and I don't see the reason behind it. The applications are $125.00! I called.
Gita, I can understand that because they are places of worship...but I'll bet they're beautiful. I was surprised they allow us to take some in the Monestary here and in New York City. I hpe they never stop pictures in Central Park...
Jo, I don't know what is up with the town. It's a popular place with those lovely little shops and lots of restaurants. I did ask why I couldn't take a picture but he didn't answer me. I was just learning how to use that camera, too :)
I think they needed permits because the park needed $4!
It might be time for you to get one of those James Bond stealth camera that looks like glasses, or a button on your shirt, or a wristwatch. LOL.
Having to pay to take pictures seems excessive. Paying to get into the park makes sense but pictures should be off limits.
Carole - Lovely shot and thanks for sharing, I suppose after reading Missy's comment I can see that the digital camera has had some negative impact on photography business.