Museum photo policies

[koraks]

I love taking pictures in museums

Yeah, I can see why, too. But it's not for me. I used to photograph parts of museum interiors for a while. I now find it too distracting. That's not what I visit museums for. I prefer to focus on what's there not what I could make of it. It's already been made, after all. I don't need to somehow rehash it.

 

[Pieter12]

Yeah, I can see why, too. But it's not for me. I used to photograph parts of museum interiors for a while. I now find it too distracting. That's not what I visit museums for. I prefer to focus on what's there not what I could make of it. It's already been made, after all. I don't need to somehow rehash it.

The primary reason I go to museums is to look at and enjoy the art. But while I'm there, I find museums to be wonderful locations offering settings and situations not found elsewhere.

Art Institute of Chicago, 2017

 

[Mike Lopez]

The Art of Looking at Art • Elliott Erwitt • Magnum Photos Magnum Photos

In celebration of International Museum Day, Elliott Erwitt’s photographs offer a wry take on people-watching

www.magnumphotos.com

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Many museum policies about cameras are about safety and not disturbing other visitors. Just as tripods are not allowed, selfie-sticks are increasingly being banned inside museums. There is the possibility of harming the art on display as well as other patrons. Large bags and backpacks are usually banned no matter what is inside. As far as the size of the camera is concerned, the museum staff cannot be expected to know who is intending to make "professional" or commercial shots--which may be prohibited--and who just has a big ol camera. Some artists and institutions do not want their work photographed, and that is generally posted in the exhibition. Before smartphones, museums regularly sold slide pages with their greatest hits. They still sell postcards and posters. There may be the theory that personal photography cuts into those sales. It never ceases to amaze me that people take smartphone photos of all the painting in an exhibit. Just buy the damn book! They probably won't look at those photos again, anyway.

I go to a lot of museums, and I go to museums a lot. I even have a project I'm considering about museum guards. Who knows?

View attachment 346523

Louvre, Paris 2007

My wife bought that same size photo of Mona Lisa and framed it for her office room.

 

[VinceInMT]

I agree that if one wants a decent photo of an art piece, stop by the gift shop on the way out. That said, on my trip to Venice and Florence last year I shot LOTS of photos in the museums but almost all include the other art students I was traveling with since I was documenting our travels on a daily blog.

I did take some shots of individual art works but primarily as a way of taking notes about an artist I wanted to look into later in greater depth. This was especially the case when I encountered the works of Tatsuo Ikeda. His works were stunning.

 

[jvo]

... the museum staff cannot be expected to know who is intending to make "professional" or commercial shots--which may be prohibited--and who just has a big ol camera. ...

hmmm, using the same logic, the museum staff can't be expected to know who is going to damage a work of art, so they shouldn't let anyone in!!!

They still sell postcards and posters. There may be the theory that personal photography cuts into those sales. It never ceases to amaze me that people take smartphone photos of all the painting in an exhibit. Just buy the damn book! They probably won't look at those photos again, anyway.

if i wanted a picture of a work of art i would find anything in the museum store of greater quality than anything i could do with my camera and available light.

 

[jeffreyg]

Four of the photographs on my current website were taken in a museum

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

 

[MattKing]

Sometimes I wonder if some rules were just copied over from the days when people used flashcubes for flash .....

 

[koraks]

That said, on my trip to Venice and Florence last year I shot LOTS of photos in the museums but almost all include the other art students I was traveling with since I was documenting our travels on a daily blog.

Yeah, but doesn't a phone or point&shoot camera suffice entirely for this? And those are virtually always allowed to be used.

 

[snusmumriken]

Four of the photographs on my current website were taken in a museum

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

Very nice website!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

hmmm, using the same logic, the museum staff can't be expected to know who is going to damage a work of art, so they shouldn't let anyone in!!!



if i wanted a picture of a work of art i would find anything in the museum store of greater quality than anything i could do with my camera and available light.

I agree. Of course, having your own shot of a painting or the Eiffel Tower or the Statue of Liberty is always a kick.

 

[VinceInMT]

Yeah, but doesn't a phone or point&shoot camera suffice entirely for this? And those are virtually always allowed to be used.

Yes, and my phone is exactly what I used to document the trip. I had my backpack with me, worn in front, and in it, among other things, was my film camera which I used for outside, street photography. The phone takes very good pictures and, considering that I was blogging every day on the trip, it was massively convenient.

As an FYI, this is the blog:

https://msub2italy2022.blogspot.com/

I added scans of the film I shot as a last entry after we returned.

 

[koraks]

@VinceInMT that blog is great; it's a really nice record of your trip. I'm sure your travel mates have greatly appreciated it as well!

 

[Kilgallb]

When I went to the Louvre in 2006 they asked me to store my K1000 in a locker. They did me a great favour. All those people who looked at the Venus de Milo through their phone, not me. I looked.

 

[Helge]

As a museum guy myself, I can say that it’s mainly and often only about money.
Museums are scared shitless that someone is making money off their collections and exhibition without them getting a share.
Being it off-brand guides, sellable photos, books, articles etc.
And increasingly with good reason. Many “influencers” and would be pop stars use museums as cheap and convenient locations.

I remember being in the crypt under St. Paul’s in London, getting scolded by a lady for taking out my phone. Getting told it was “inappropriate”.
Tell you what was inappropriate, making the grave of lord Nelson into a hustling and bustling tourist attraction. Getting out a phone was apparently the last straw.
Funnily enough no mention of cameras.

 

[Pieter12]

As a museum guy myself, I can say that it’s mainly and often only about money.
Museums are scared shitless that someone is making money off their collections and exceptions without them getting a share.
Being it off brand guides, sellable photos, books, articles etc.
And increasingly with good reason, many “influencers” and would be pop stars use museums as cheap and convenient locations.

I remember being in the crypt under St. Paul’s in London, getting scolded by a lady for taking out my phone. Getting told it was “inappropriate”.
Tell you what was inappropriate, making the grave of lord Nelson into a hustling and bustling tourist attraction. Getting out a phone was apparently the last straw.
Funnily enough no mention of cameras.

I find it quite far-fetched to think anyone except Thomas Struth is making any money by taking photos in museums. Do you have any concrete evidence?

 

[BrianShaw]

Although @Helge state that in the extreme, I've also been told the same by both museum docents and security in the past. The only time I can recall being "strictly denied" the opportunity to take my own pictures is with visiting exhibits at two specific museums - Getty and Ronald Reagan Predicential Library. Others didn't seem to be bothered by it. Normally I prefer to rely on my photographic memory and immerse myself in the museum/gallery experience.

 

[halfaman]

The Louvre in Paris seems to have liberal policies. That's the Mona Lisa in the back. We and everyone else were taking pictures, similar throughout the museum. I think tripods and flash were forbidden.

Mona Lisa room is incredible, I was around 1 minute in until I realized everything was ridiculous and left to the rest of Louvre. If I need to see that painting I will get a good reproduction. Only Sistine Chapel at Vatican Musseums is on the same level of multitude as far as I know.

 

[Pieter12]

Although @Helge state that in the extreme, I've also been told the same by both museum docents and security in the past. The only time I can recall being "strictly denied" the opportunity to take my own pictures is with visiting exhibits at two specific museums - Getty and Ronald Reagan Predicential Library. Others didn't seem to be bothered by it. Normally I prefer to rely on my photographic memory and immerse myself in the museum/gallery experience.

It really depends on the museum and the exhibition. I photograph at the Getty all the time, and they post when photography is not allowed for an exhibition. That is usually at the request of the lending institution—not a blanket policy. At a recent Cy Twombly show, photography was allowed except for one or two pieces. Whoever owned them did not want them photographed.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Mona Lisa room is incredible, I was around 1 minute in until I realized everything was ridiculous and left to the rest of Louvre. If I need to see that painting I will get a good reproduction. Only Sistine Chapel at Vatican Musseums is on the same level of multitude as far as I know.

My wife and I gave up too. There was a ridiculously long line to get close to the Mona Lisa. So, we took this selfie and left to see the other parts of the museum. Notice how everyone's got their cell phones up in the air. It was comical. Da Vinci must be rolling over in his grave.

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

As a museum guy myself, I can say that it’s mainly and often only about money.
Museums are scared shitless that someone is making money off their collections and exhibition without them getting a share.
Being it off brand guides, sellable photos, books, articles etc.
And increasingly with good reason, many “influencers” and would be pop stars use museums as cheap and convenient locations.

I remember being in the crypt under St. Paul’s in London, getting scolded by a lady for taking out my phone. Getting told it was “inappropriate”.
Tell you what was inappropriate, making the grave of lord Nelson into a hustling and bustling tourist attraction. Getting out a phone was apparently the last straw.
Funnily enough no mention of cameras.

In the Louvre, there are a few shops around the museum. While my wife was busy buying copies of the Mona Lisa and other postcard type photos for her office at home, I was busy shooting this photo scene next to the shop's checkout line through a hidden window. You never know what might come your way.

 

[Mike Lopez]

Mona Lisa room is incredible, I was around 1 minute in until I realized everything was ridiculous and left to the rest of Louvre. If I need to see that painting I will get a good reproduction. Only Sistine Chapel at Vatican Musseums is on the same level of multitude as far as I know.

I would advise that one not pull out a camera in the Sistine Chapel. I've seen too many people called out (loudly) to even think about trying to take a picture in there. (Not that I would, anyway. Sometimes it's ok to simply observe a work of wonder.)

 

[BrianShaw]

I would advise that one not pull out a camera in the Sistine Chapel. I've seen too many people called out (loudly) to even think about trying to take a picture in there. (Not that I would, anyway. Sometimes it's ok to simply observe a work of wonder.)

Some photos taken before the ban on photography:

Adolphe Braun Photographs of the Sistine Chapel Frescoes

digital.bodleian.ox.ac.uk

And the reason for the ban, which some say originally applied to professional/commercial photography but expanded to everyone due to fear of pros acting like tourists:

Account Suspended

RETURN TO GLORY - MICHELANGELO REVEALED | NIPPON TV

Part 1: When there were only areas of darkness and deep shadow, there is now suddenly a wealth of de

www.ntv.co.jp

 

[Pieter12]

And the reason for the ban, which some say originally applied to professional/commercial photography but expanded to everyone due to fear of pros acting like tourists:

Why would pros want to take photos in a crowded tourist attraction today? I could possibly see a journalistic or editorial opportunity, but otherwise what commercial value could there be? The ban would seem to be more about disruption and blocking views.

 

[BrianShaw]

Why would pros want to take photos in a crowded tourist attraction today? I could possibly see a journalistic or editorial opportunity, but otherwise what commercial value could there be? The ban would seem to be more about disruption and blocking views.

I hear you but can’t answer that question other than to refer you to the Nippon TV licensing agreement, which I can’t find except for excerpts and second-hand references. They paid millions of money for those rights. I’m sure the original is in the Vatican’s secret archives, for the few who may have access.