Photography etiquette in Italy

[pipegarcia]

I do have problem trying to take a photo of Michelangelo David's in Florence and the Catacombs in Rome. Otherwise no problem except for a very beautiful pickpocket woman in the Milan metro.

[w0m]

Originally Posted by pipegarcia

I do have problem trying to take a photo of Michelangelo David's in Florence and the Catacombs in Rome. Otherwise no problem except for a very beautiful pickpocket woman in the Milan metro.

You can steal my heart; but, alas not my wallet.

[Nick3434]

I just got back. It was awesome. I went from Rome north and left out of Milan, and the only place you were not allowed to photograph was here:


Sistine ceiling by SMP_3434, on Flickr




I went to the sistine chapel twice because I had the time. First time, pictures would not have happened with guards and whatnot. Second time happened to be the one Sunday a month it is free. Well the line was long, but it was so packed and so many people breaking the rules that I was able to fire off some pics, and I was respectable and did not use flash unlike others.

My biggest regret is that I was so blown away by the trip and the work portion of it was so fast paced that I wound up coming back with solid pics to show to family and friends, and a few super keepers, but you could tell my mind was just overwhelmed with being a tourist and not as on point as I am here regarding composition, angles, artistic shots etc.

Have a blast, it is hands down my favorite trip to date.

[cbadie]

Hi Nick ...our family just got back as well, Roma and Firenze as well as the surrounding areas. Postings to come soon. It will be cool to compare perspectives I think.

Now do you know WHY photos are not permitted in the Sistine? Once I found out I started snapping, guards or no guards.....

[Nick3434]

I thought it was something to do with the flash and the paint.

The guards the first day were actually enforcing the rule and saying things to people shooting, and I was trying not to be a rude American the whole time, but I think that it would have been ok with no flash looking back.

[pwm2]

Yes, there are some UV light also from the flash, ageing the paintings.

But the visible light from the flash also affects some paints, if you take into account the total amount of flashes every day.

There are no real reasons for forbidding non-flash photography unless a specific museum have some interesting rule about forbidding reproduction.

[armis]

The problem is that way too many people don't know the first thing about their cameras, and how to turn off the flash. Signs that read "no flash" are ignored more often than not, whereas it's easier to communicate and enforce a "no photos" policy.

[cbadie]

Actually....The Japanese station NHK paid for the most recent restoration. In return they have all photo and video rights to the Chapel, and that is why you are not permitted to take photos there.

Really....

[Gmb1]

It' s forbidden to photograph military installations, many churches and museums, but there is not a single rule. In Venice you can photograph in the church of S Maria dei Frari, but not in basilica San Marco.
In Pisa you can photograph anywhere but not in Florence or basilica di S.Francesco in Assisi.
In some museums you can shoot only if you fill out a statement saying you will not use the photos for commercial use.
Tripod: in theory the use of the tripod is forbidden, but I never had problems using it.
People: don't photograph children without asking permission to their parents.

[x_tan]

Originally Posted by w0m

I heard that photography was banned because the Japanese Nippon Television Network Corporation has exclusive rights to all photos taken in exchange for financing it's restoration (30?) years ago. Kind of slimy imo (if true).

Hope that is the gigantic photo by the Japanese:

http://www.vatican.va/various/cappelle/sistina_vr/

BTW, ZERO tourist in the photo