Shooting film inside churches (ROME)

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

So I'm off to Rome in a few months and I have 6 days to do nothing but shoot pictures. I want to make this a film trip but I'm worried about the lack of light inside churches. My camera is a Fuji GF670W which has at most an f/4.5 aperture. That's not much light so I am certain to need a tripod. Problem is, do churches allow such things as tripod inside? I have never done that before. Normally I shoot digital in low light using ISO3200 and an f/2 lens. Film wont be me that kind of flexibility, certainly not in color.

I do not want to shoot both analogue and digital. I dont enjoy that at all. If I have to make this a digital trip, I'll do so, but only as a last resort.

All tips on shooting film in situations like this are greatly encouraged!!!

Thanks,

Xmas · Apr 25, 2014

Normally church authorities accept money for tripods especially if you confess to using film and being a tourist.

paul_c5x4 · Apr 25, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Problem is, do churches allow such things as tripod inside ?

Many of the churches in Rome do not allow photography at all, and those that do have a blanket ban on tripods. The tripod ban will extend to the outside of the building as well. You will also get told "no treppiede" at most historical sites and popular tourist spots (Trevi Fountain being one).

My recommendation: Respect the tripod ban inside churches, take a beanbag and use it where photography is allowed. Outside in the tourist hotspots, check for police officers and then be quick setting up the tripod.

I did Rome a couple of years back with a 5x4 - The few times I did get told "no treppiede", the official in question would wait until after I had taken the shot before approaching.

One spot of interest, and definitely no cameras: Capuchin Crypt.

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

Ok, that sounds a lot different than Paris. I had no problems shooting digitally inside almost every single church there.

darkosaric · Apr 25, 2014

In many places in Italy one must pay to enter church in the first place. Just be warned .
You can get some mini tripod, sit, and place it on a church bench. This could be a good workaround.

On the other side - Rome is so beautifully photogenic that you will have 6 days of hard work without entering single church . Beside all famous places - don't forget to visit Piramide and English Cemetery near by (graves of John Keats and Percy Shelley).

paul_c5x4 · Apr 25, 2014

Spent most of one day wandering around the Forum and Palatine Hill shooting a combination of 5x4 and 120, 99% of it with a tripod. Setting up for one last shot before exiting the site, I got approached by a uniformed "official".... "No treppiedde".... "Been shooting here all day, and NOW you tell me !!!, phht. I'm leaving !"

Another oddity to look up: Knights of Malta keyhole
One I missed, and intend to go back to one day: Pons Aemilius

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

darkosaric said:
In many places in Italy one must pay to enter church in the first place. Just be warned .
You can get some mini tripod, sit, and place it on a church bench. This could be a good workaround.

On the other side - Rome is so beautifully photogenic that you will have 6 days of hard work without entering single church . Beside all famous places - don't forget to visit Piramide and English Cemetery near by (graves of John Keats and Percy Shelley).

Yeah, I was thinking about a mini tripod. The GF670W isnt super heavy. It might work.

Pay to enter a church huh? I've never done that before.

Is Assisi a decent day trip out of Rome by chance?

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

Should I just leave the tripod at home then? Gosh...even outside you get shooed away??

darkosaric · Apr 25, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Should I just leave the tripod at home then? Gosh...even outside you get shooed away??

Italy is little bit chaotic - one day one rule, second day another rule. It is part of a charm or Mediterranean temperament. Embraced it - don't fight it .

When I lived in Milan - first I was upset, but later I was in peace with it. And Milan is on north, they like to say "Milan is like Germany" (of course it is not) , south is even more relaxed.

argyrotype · Apr 25, 2014

I used a monopod in Italy, including in the Vatican Museum and St Peter's, no problem. Good down to 1/2 second.

Hatchetman · Apr 25, 2014

I would try one of those flexible mini tripods. You can use it to brace the camera against pillars, pews, etc. Again 1/2 second should be doable.

mgb74 · Apr 25, 2014

argyrotype said:
I used a monopod in Italy, including in the Vatican Museum and St Peter's, no problem. Good down to 1/2 second.

That's (monopod) what I was thinking.

Another less obviously "photographic" option would be a hiking staff with a 1/4x20 mount and a small ball head. Not sure if the "shock absorbing" ones would be better or worse. I'd pay attention to the height as you will likely want to aim your camera to the ceiling without crouching down too much. These tend to be shorter than most monopods.

bimaneg · Apr 25, 2014

well, there are more than 900 churches here in Rome and you don't pay to go inside unless it's not a museum, the use of a tripod is prohibited both inside and outside of some churches such as the Vatican etc, and also the use of flash inside, but each church decide on their own... is also forbidden in the stations( bus or trains - punishable by a fine of 500 €, which is very rare because according to the law in this areas it is occupation of public land)
But ....but... and here we have always one ''but'' 'if you kindly ask for outside or explain your purpose maybe someone will allow you cause the law is not always applied perfectly, with tourists officers are more tolerant.

BrianShaw · Apr 25, 2014

Perhaps a label on each leg: Father, Son, and HolyGhost... then explain that the tripod is a worship aid.

Gerald C Koch · Apr 25, 2014

Instead of a tripod you might consider using a bean bag. To save on weight and space, fill the bag when you get to Rome. Then you can use any convenient horizontal surface to support a camera.

paul_c5x4 · Apr 25, 2014

RattyMouse said:
Should I just leave the tripod at home then? Gosh...even outside you get shooed away??

Take the tripod, you'll regret it you don't. If you are considerate and avoid the tourist hotspots at peak periods, you are unlikely to have any trouble.

MattKing · Apr 25, 2014

When I traveled in Italy I used a monopod that had three small legs stored inside - sort of a mini-tripod with a very long neck.

As a tripod, it wasn't great, but it was way better than no tripod at all.

Black Dog · Apr 25, 2014

There can be only one

argyrotype said:
I used a monopod in Italy, including in the Vatican Museum and St Peter's, no problem. Good down to 1/2 second.

+1 on that-very helpful [I use a Mamiya 330]. Delta 3200 and Portra 800 likewise.

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

bimaneg said:
well, there are more than 900 churches here in Rome and you don't pay to go inside unless it's not a museum, the use of a tripod is prohibited both inside and outside of some churches such as the Vatican etc, and also the use of flash inside, but each church decide on their own... is also forbidden in the stations( bus or trains - punishable by a fine of 500 , which is very rare because according to the law in this areas it is occupation of public land)
But ....but... and here we have always one ''but'' 'if you kindly ask for outside or explain your purpose maybe someone will allow you cause the law is not always applied perfectly, with tourists officers are more tolerant.

Let me understand this better. you can be outside on public streets and STILL be told not to use a tripod??? That seems crazy.

AgX · Apr 25, 2014

I don't know about Europe, but this is the case in parts of NYC.

RattyMouse · Apr 25, 2014

AgX said:
I don't know about Europe, but this is the case in parts of NYC.

What American law says that you cannot use a tripod on public property?

Hatchetman · Apr 25, 2014

How long you been away from the US, Ratty? Law enforcement hassles photographers here all the time. The cops don't even know the laws. It's not worth getting into a pissing match with them.

DWThomas · Apr 25, 2014

I think on crowded city sidewalks there is concern -- maybe even legitimate -- that tripod legs sticking out could trip someone. Of course, such an incident could also send your gear crashing to the concrete! I managed to make do with using my chubby forearm as a beanbag in a few places in Italy. Many places there, both churches and museums, prohibit photography inside. That said, the Vatican museum permitted photos without flash, but the Sistine Chapel said "NO Photography." Probably every 30 seconds or so as the mass of people stumbled through, a flash would go off and I didn't see anyone tossed out the door by Swiss Guards. I suppose some folks haven't figured out how to turn off the flash on their P&S trinkets. I saw people in daylight at the Colosseum taking pictures with a flash going off, I'm sure across that space a flash was really useful!

Black Dog · Apr 26, 2014

One big advantage of using a TLR with a WLF is that you can rest the camera on your knee etc and look down into the finder to compose the image.

trythis · Apr 26, 2014

14 years ago every single church I went to in Rome had a "No Flash Photo" sign up and every single one of those signs had the word or symbol for flash crossed out with a marker or tape. It was like like they suddenly realized that they were losing out on postcard and book sales. So frustrating.

Not saying I didn't sneak a few hip shots...but as you would guess they weren't worth the effort.

sent from phone. excuse my typing.

Shooting film inside churches (ROME)

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