Ethics: Photography

Situation: A renowned, talented landscape photographer was arrested
and fined after fires he had set as a backdrop for night photography grew out of control
and caused damage to natural formations at Arches National Park in Utah.

My Summary of Events: On September 18 and 19 of 2000, Utah landscape photographer Michael Fatali lead a group of amateur photographers to Delicate Arch in Arches National Park, a state landmark. Fatali and his assistants lit Duraflame logs to demonstrate to amateur photographers "nighttime photographic techniques."

In his statement to prosecutors, Fatali said he brought aluminum pans to the shoots to contain the fire. The pans failed, however, and the Duraflame logs burned directly on the sandstone, causing damage directly under and to the west and east of the arch.

Officials were able to remove some of the scorch marks immediately, but remaining scars from the fire have proven difficult for park service employees to eradicate.

He plead guilty to all counts including starting fires at another National Park in Utah. The other incident occurred on Aug. 12, 1997 when Fatali used wood from Canyonlands National Park to build a fire at Horsehoof Arch. The next day, he did the same thing at a slot canyon known as "The Joint Trail."

 On Feb. 1, Michael Fatali was sentenced to two years probation by a federal judge in Salt Lake City. During this period, Fatali is prohibited from entering Arches and Canyonlands national parks. In addition to 150 hours of community service, Fatali had been ordered to pay $10,900 in restitution to the Park Service. Federal officials have seized all the negatives, originals and prints of the firelight photos.

While the Assistant U.S. Attorney had asked that Fatali be banned from all NPS lands in Utah, the judge denied the request saying that the penalty would be "onerous."

My Opinion:

Fatali devoted his entire career to producing breathtaking photographs of Utah's desert landscapes. He operates a school of photography and owns a gallery outside of Zion National Park. I think Fatali made some poor decisions, he never obtained the proper permits to start a fire, didn't have the logs in proper container and didn't bring fire extinguishing devices. If the fire got out-of-hand he could have destroyed a natural treasure that couldn't be replaced. I agree with Fatali's punishment and hope he learns to act more ethical as a photographer, especially one who educates photographers. 

Lesson to all photographers, the government can seize your photos as part of or the result of a case like this one.