paying for photographs?

HI, does anyone know if you need to pay for picture taking in Papua, especially at the Goroka Show? I realize sitting out in the audience one would not have to pay but going being the main event and taking individual pictures would you expect to pay to photograph? Last year at the Elephant Festival in India going back to watch those dressing and practicing they did not want or ask for any money. I have found that even in southern Ethiopia, the tribal peoples demand money for each photo taken. In the last five years the only country I can think of not having to pay for pictures was in Sapa, Vietnam this last January.
How much did you pay and how did you accumulate the small change in Kina? I know most banks won't give you any small change at all. Thanks for any info you might have.

I haven't been to one of the big higland shows but I've never experienced or heard of locals demanding money to have their photo taken. Please don't offer them money, it's not something we want to start here in PNG.

Individuals will demand that you pay them for photos. Note the word "demand". This is not a new thing. To my knowledge it has been going on for 20+ years. And I might add it is not an unfair thing. Someone who travels and dons traditional costume is within his or her rights to ask for some payment. Used to be PNG Kina1.00

I went to the Goroka Show last year and took, maybe, three hundred photos. Only once was I asked to pay, by an old guy dressed up as a 'witch doctor'. I didn't pay and didn't take his photo. Oh, and a secong time when someone had some tree kangaroos in a cage in the main street. Didn't pay them or take photos either.

I have always found that PNG people LOVE to have their photos taken. I sometimes feel that I am invading people's privacy, so often ask if it is okay to take a photo. The answer has always been a resounding 'Yes', and is delivered in a way that conveys the implication that the people couldn't understand why I had taken so long to get the camera out! Sometimes people ask for copies of photos. It is not always practical, but if they have an address, and I have spent time with them, such as guides or over night stays in villages, I always try and send copies. These are really valued as I have seen old dog eared photos displayed in homes as prized possessions.

On your final point, I have had no trouble getting bundles of 2 kina notes or one kina coins from banks. It does make life easier if you have somall change.

Enjoy the show - I will be there too!

PS I also paid for photos in Sapa, Vietnam.

I concurr with NorthMelboune, the locals love having their photo taken. And to be honest I can't remember being asked to pay for taking photos anywhere in PNG.

I guarantee you will be asked to pay at either Hagen or Goroka show. I concur that in villages etc, people like to have their photo taken gratis.

Hello. I spent 2 days at the goroka show last year, took hundreds of photos and wasn't ask for any payment. I think if you have paid for the pass to go into the showground area then it is accepted that you can take pictures? I always asked if I wanted to take a picture of an individual etc. Some people asked for a cigerette or something like that (which I didn't have!), but I didn't come across anybody who seemed to expect money. It can feel a bit rude to be taking lots of pictures, but at the goroka show I think people are used to it as long as you are polite and ask and say thank you. That was my impression anyway. It's a fantastic place, have fun.

I just went to the Enga show last weekend and the people were asking me to have their photo taken ! In the beginning I politely asked around because I wanted to take some close up portraits but the sing sing groups have all been requesting to take their picture. There were only about 20-30 foreigners on the show grounds. About 15 different sing sing groups and had fantastic pictures. ALL free except from paying the entrance fee of course.
This upcoming weekend I'll be at the Hagen show. Check pictures online at my non-commercial web from about halfway september when I am unfortunately home gain.

Globetrotters.be

I just saw the Mt Hagan show and no one asked for any money at all. In fact I was never once asked for money for photographs in PNG and I took thousands of pictures. The performers all get a payment (about K50) from the show organisers. That why the tickets are so exspensive (K300 for Mt Hagen this year - or 4K if you didn't go into the arena)

I was at the Goroka Show for 2 days back in 02.

I did God knows how many rolls & didn't pay a penny - I always asked, used a 28-80 zoom for portraiture - so I was really close, asked for shots with mask on / off - the lot

I did offer the odd cigg to those who I knew smoked, which eventually produced a good natured stampede & I was left laughing holding a very empty fag packet that had been holding 20 thirty seconds before hand

I didn't pay for a single photo - I was asked off the old Rabual strip for money to take aircraft remains - it's like a custom fee there, patroled by a very savvy kid - but didn't take any, so didn't pay