Museum photo policies

[Alan Edward Klein]

This is me explaining Manet's brush strokes at the Getty Museum in California. Taken with a small digital camera.

 

[halfaman]

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.)

I remember that, the constant calling outs were very funny...

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

I remember that, the constant calling outs were very funny...

What did they have the Swiss guards running around spearing people? "Lower your camera , sir."

 

[halfaman]

What did they have the Swiss guards running around spearing people? "Lower your camera , sir."

More or less. They were a bunch of them mainly watching from some distance to the crowd and yelling very loud while staring at you something like: No photos! Everybody was trying to take photos, so you can imagine the situation.

I think they were Carabinieri actually.

 

[BrianShaw]

This is me explaining Manet's brush strokes at the Getty Museum in California. Taken with a small digital camera.

I'm glad you explained. I thought you might be trying to jump in the boat!

 

[Mike Lopez]

More or less. They were a bunch of them mainly watching from some distance to the crowd and yelling very loud while staring at you something like: No photos! Everybody was trying to take photos, so you can imagine the situation.

I think they were Carabinieri actually.

For as long as I live, I don't think I'll ever get that very deep, guttural "NO FOTO" being bellowed every couple of minutes out of my head...

 

[Pieter12]

This is me explaining Manet's brush strokes at the Getty Museum in California. Taken with a small digital camera.

I'm surprised a guard didn't ask you to step away from the painting.

 

[BrianShaw]

I'm surprised a guard didn't ask you to step away from the painting.

Ya… with all of the gesticulation that was going on…

 

[Sirius Glass]

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.

When we were in the Louve, it seemed that everyone but us looked at everything through their phones and never looked directly with their eyes.

 

[Sirius Glass]

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.)

In 1966 I put my Minolta SR7 on the floor using the delayed timer to photograph the ceiling. After I took several photographs, a guard told me not to take photographs. I explained that the camera was broken and just kept firing so I might as well not waste the film. Meanwhile the self timer was running and after another 10 seconds it went off again. The guard threw his hands up in the air and walked away. No one bothered me after that about taking photographs.

 

[Sirius Glass]

What did they have the Swiss guards running around spearing people? "Lower your camera , sir."

No just regular uniforms that are suits with labels.

 

[RalphLambrecht]

I do not know if this is the right section, so moderators, please move this post to the appropriate section if needed.

I was wondering about people’s experience when taking photos in museums, their respective policies and how they are enforced.. both in the US and Europe, probably also in Asia..
First, museums vs cameras.. I take pictures with my Rollei Hy6, not as a professional photographer but just as an amateur whose family has used Rolleis for a long time and likes their rendition. Yet, it seems that to many museums, the size of the camera classifies me as a professional, and they can either accept that I am not after giving me a strong warning, or not accept it at all… With digital backs or color films that do not go over ISO 800/30°, no flash of course, my pictures will certainly be much blurrier than those made with modern compacts or camera phones, yet museums seem to still consider size a primary factor.. Imagine, I may try selling a blurry photo of what’s in the museum!.. I tried to explain them that not every Porsche driver on the highway is a professional car racer, but they did not want to understand the comparison…

Second, lenses. In a museum I visited last week, on top of giving me the lecture on professional photos, I was told it was forbidden to switch lenses! Again, a modern compact with zoom and CMOS sensor with high sensitivity plus image stabilization would take much better pictures than my camera that does not have all these modern functions, whether I change lenses or not.

Third, regarding the flash. I would never use flash when taking pictures of paintings inside a museum. Yet I have been forbidden to use flash at a classic car exhibition that took place in a museum (although there was no danger of car color fading…), and conversely I have seen many people who did not control their phone properly and took pictures with the phone light, without a word from the guards.

Fourth, backpacks. Although I understand the fear of museums that someone with a backpack turns quickly and bumps over a statue or another visitor, carrying a backpack in the front or holding it by hand is not practical at all, when the museum declines any responsibility for items left at the coat check. The traditional rope barriers have worked well in the past to protect pieces of art by giving enough space around them where people cannot be, so why aren’t they used anymore? And it is everyone’s responsibility to pay attention to whomever may be behind and in front oneself.

All in all, it seems that museums are getting paranoid about photos, for some obvious reasons but with restrictions that make me want to stay out of these places…

Have you experienced similar situations?

just stay out of those places; they don't want you; just your money!

 

[Mr Flibble]

Most recent place I went to, I asked the owner at the ticket office if it was alright to take photos.
He said "No problem", didn't even specify flash or not.
It wasn't an art museum though, just a local historical place.

Recently a friend went to a sci-fi exhibition and happily photographed everything on display with his phone, including all the "No Photographs" stickers

 

[jeffreyg]

A number of years ago while visiting the British Museum you were required to check cameras as they were prohibited at least medium format. That was fine since I was there to see the collections. However, on the way out after the return of my camera I couldn't resist and made this image. I probably wouldn't have made except for the expression of the one guard facing me. It was with a Bronica S2A and Tri-x. Even with the noisy shutter they didn't turn or say anything to me.

ABOUT | JEFFREY GLASSER

HOME | SCULPTURE and PHOTOGRAPHY

 

[jeffreyg]

I forgot to mention that I cropped to make it a vertical

 

[MattKing]

I think I would have titled that one "All hands on deck".
Like it a lot.

 

[Sirius Glass]

Yesterday we went to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. All digital camera including phones were allowed to take photographs. Specifically film cameras were banded. I was planning on storing my camera in my pack to ease of movement walking around so I did not bother to discuss to obvious logical contradiction. Someone from the Netherlands can carry on the fight.

 

[guangong]

Interesting, and a bit screwy. I suppose digital is ok because impossible to forbid and police ubiquitous cell phones.
My museum film cameras are a Super Ikonta B (How can that old thing take pictures?) and Minox III (For same reason). Years ago I was able to shot several photographs of Ch’ing Dynasty photos of eunuchs, etc. with Minox. The shots I took were not reproduced in book about exhibition.

 

[koraks]

All digital camera including phones were allowed to take photographs. Specifically film cameras were banded.

That's quite different from the policy as it's posted on their website. The way I read it, it's as follows:

* Photography only permitted in specifically designated areas
* Any photography of the artwork in the exhibition rooms is forbidden

No distinction is made between cameras/phones etc.

A misunderstanding, perhaps?

 

[Kino]

Yesterday we went to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. All digital camera including phones were allowed to take photographs. Specifically film cameras were banded. I was planning on storing my camera in my pack to ease of movement walking around so I did not bother to discuss to obvious logical contradiction. Someone from the Netherlands can carry on the fight.

To get around this, maybe we should start clipping on a LCD screen on the back of our film cameras with a generic set of images to display and pretend to chimp...

My cynical take on this is not a misunderstanding, but the rigid, dogmatic approach that large institutions tend to exhibit in their policies, regardless of logic.

 

[guangong]

To get around this, maybe we should start clipping on a LCD screen on the back of our film cameras with a generic set of images to display and pretend to chimp...

My cynical take on this is not a misunderstanding, but the rigid, dogmatic approach that large institutions tend to exhibit in their policies, regardless of logic.

Ditto!

 

[Alan Edward Klein]

Yesterday we went to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam. All digital camera including phones were allowed to take photographs. Specifically film cameras were banded. I was planning on storing my camera in my pack to ease of movement walking around so I did not bother to discuss to obvious logical contradiction. Someone from the Netherlands can carry on the fight.

Film captures the essence of the painting and diminishes it. Digital doesn't.

 

[Pieter12]

Film captures the essence of the painting and diminishes it. Digital doesn't.

Doesn't capture the essence or doesn't diminish it? And why do you think so? IMO, a photo of a painting can never reproduce seeing it in person. However, any art or photo cannot be fully appreciated in bad viewing conditions--poor lighting, glare or crowds surrounding it, plus the ability to step back or get reasonably close.

 

[Sirius Glass]

That's quite different from the policy as it's posted on their website. The way I read it, it's as follows:

* Photography only permitted in specifically designated areas
* Any photography of the artwork in the exhibition rooms is forbidden

No distinction is made between cameras/phones etc.

A misunderstanding, perhaps?

I could not find a suitable thread. Thank you for finding a home for it.

No misunderstanding. I requested them to repeat the whole statement. I was not interested in an argument so I checked my camera bag and moved on. There were no restrictions in the Rijksmuseum.

 

[Sirius Glass]

To get around this, maybe we should start clipping on a LCD screen on the back of our film cameras with a generic set of images to display and pretend to chimp...

My cynical take on this is not a misunderstanding, but the rigid, dogmatic approach that large institutions tend to exhibit in their policies, regardless of logic.

Film captures the essence of the painting and diminishes it. Digital doesn't.