Question about property access

[Texas_Aggie]

Good Morning everyone!

In doing some reconnaissance online, i've been looking at some vermont photos and then trying to figure out where people were standing when they took them. I found several nice pics of Peacham, but noticed that they all appeared to be taken in a field on private property.

For example, these photos appear to be taken from somewhere in this field (https://goo.gl/maps/pSRHSixgCMU2)

https://500px.com/photo/70603073/pink-m ... blanchette

https://500px.com/photo/85622339/rural- ... blanchette

https://500px.com/photo/116897877/cow-u ... blanchette

https://500px.com/photo/244731857/moonl ... wayne-rene

https://500px.com/photo/218538863/a-pic ... hotography

Is this common in Vermont? In Texas, you would have the cops called on you for trespassing. I noticed even in Kaplan's yellow book, there are some photo locations where he tells you to walk across a field (Corinth, if i remember correctly).

I don't think we'll make it up there to Peacham, but my curiosity was getting to me.

[Texas_Aggie]

another random question

I was looking around Peacham on google street view, and noticed that there is a large stone monument down this little dirt road. Anyone know what it is about?

https://goo.gl/maps/XEHX7bTtd7k

[Texas_Aggie]

Thanks!

[Andy]

Yep. MMVT hit the nail on the head. It is really all about being courteous and respectful. The old, lifetime Vermonters are generally very friendly, helpful and welcoming folks. But use common sense. All of the iconic images of that Peacham Scene (including Arnold Kaplan's originally famous images) were taken from somewhere in the field. I have been there many times. Sometimes it is being used as pasture. One year there was corn there and it had already been harvested. Other years they are growing hay. It is a no-no to trample down a hayfield, as it wreaks havoc with trying to mow it cleanly later. But if it is pasture, it is probably already trampled down by the cows (and they have also likely left some other surprises too, to tread carefully). I always have walked up around the fence and woods lines on obviously cultivated farm fields. Again, it is a matter of courtesy.

Unfortunately, the masses seem to have forgotten manners and courtesy in many instances, as we are beginning to see more and more on our travels virtually everywhere in the world. I overheard one of the Peacham residents talking to another in the store a couple years back, saying she couldn't wait until the foliage was gone (and the tourists too). She recounted how a couple of viewers walked through her back yard (which I learned from her after engaging her in conversation, was up behind the field we are talking about), and walked right up and looked into her windows. Really?

My feeling has always been, when in doubt, ask permission, or just don't go there.

BTW, Margie, you are basically right about being within your rights to photograph the sunflower field from the public road. The only thing that would be "protected" would be copyrighted materials (like architecture) in some very limited instances, and persons' rights to privacy. Even then, the copyright issue isn't one of prohibition to photograph. it is what you do with it afterward. I have a really nice image of the NBC building in Chicago. One of my favorites. But I don't believe I could ever sell or license it because the NBC logo is such a prominent part of the image. But there was certainly nothing to stop me from making the photograph legally.

Americans can be very protective of their property. So again, use common sense. I would have done just as you did. I cannot think of a photo that is worth the grief

[Andy]

Oh, and YES, the book does have detailed directions to this location.