Rome Street Photography Professioanal Experience?

[AndyCorleone]

Hi, I'm going to Rome This Week. I'm going to take with me my 5d MKII I would love to use my Tripod in Comom Places:
Coliseum, Trevi, Vatican, Spanish Steps, Forum, etc
I found this website:
http://www.fotografi.org/abrogata_licenza.htm

My Italian is really bad and the online translator don't help a lot
Do you think in necessary a Licence for professinal Street Photography in Rome?
Thanks

[NickSimcheck]

I can't help you, but I have to ask... is Corleone your real last name?

(I just watched The Godfather the other day!)

[Dchemist]

I don't know about the official answer but you will have issues with the tripod and the number of people around you. The places you list are busy all day and you might find the tripod gets in the road. Enjoy Rome.

[bwolford]

Are you taking these pictures for sale? For sale there?

Some places (vatican) have limited photography and some haven't. I took my IIN and had no problems shooting anywhere, but I didn't expect the crowds to part for a people free shot either. :) The only exception is the Vatican. They were pretty strict in the Sistine Chapel, but relaxed elsewhere, but NO FLASH anywhere.


Good luck.

[sesshin]

You don't need a license to just walk around and take pictures in Rome. You can use tripods pretty much anywhere in public as long as crowds permit. I don't think you can bring tripods in the Vatican, you definitely aren't supposed to use flash.

I would recommend getting out first thing in the morning before all the crowds arrive. Some of my best shots; Trevi Fountain, Coliseum, Piazza Navona... were all taken right before/after the sunrise.

[Mocows]

You should be able to use the tripod almost everywhere although the feasibility of that is doubtful due to the shear number of people walking around.

The Vatican is the only really iffy because they do search your bags and they might limit what you can take in... although I used a point and shoot in the chapel (no flash of course) and remembered I had my Leatherman on me at the time... once I was inside...oops.

[bwolford]

Oh, I was able to carry my monopod into the Vatican, but rarely used it. It became more of a walking stick than anything else.

[SOK]

Tripods quickly become a PITA...and they won't let you into the Vatican museum with one.

I normally travel with a cheap, plastic tripod (the sort that a camera shops gives you when you by a high end P&S) that fits inside my daypack, and really only carry it at night for long-ish exposures. While it's generally a horrible thing to use and susceptible to wind and vibration, it's compact and lightweight, and therefore suitable for my needs. Further, if you're forced to dispose of it in a hurry (or leave it outside a museum or similar and hope it's there when you get back) - it's no big deal!

As far as Rome went, the only time I really needed a tripod was to show the water movement at the Trevi Fountain. I was there at dusk and got a nice balance of the ambient light with the fountain's lights, along with the flowing water effect.

sesshin's advice about getting to points of interest early is excellent. The crowds that gather at some of the favourite attractions are unreal.

Have fun!

[The_Duke_Of_Eli]

I think you mean "professional". Professioanal is a MUCH different thing to take pictures of. :eek:

[Aerton]

I was in Roma two weeks ago, I walked for 12 hours taking pictures for everything Coliseum, cars,people you name it. No official gave me any problems, but one red faced not so happy local wanted to know why I was photographing his Fiat 500, I explained that I live in America and we don't have such model and he said in Italy you cannot take pictures of cars.

I think the rule of licence to photograph is the same that applies to all Cities and that is if you are a commercial photographer and are setting up a shoot you need permission and security etc. I guess an agency or such but for a guy and a camera you shoot and you move on. Just this week I was reading ShutterBug and in a camera test they had a shot of Grand Central and two trains so I figured that I could duplicate that shot. I walked until I found the track that had trains on both sides and the lighting was just as in the magazine. I took my camera and started shooting until I hear you cannot photography here. When I turned to see who was saying this it was a construction guy. So I moved to the next tube took another shot and continued on my walk to work...