Originally Posted by davem4
i took pictures of the sistene chappel despite it saying no pictures.
However i turned off flash and used my sisters head to hold the camera steady.
got three or four pictures then a gurad askes me if i cant read, i respond in another language sorry, and move on :-P
(Yes i am aware flash will damage artwork, hence me not using any flash, so i dont see any harm in it. The signs are there banning photos because 9/10 people dont know how to turn off flash on their cameras).
Yes, flashes will damage paintings. However the issue in the Sistine Chapel is different. The paintings are so far away that the flash with neither help your photo nor damage the the frescoes.
The real issue there is that the company that underwrote a part of the huge costs of the restoration has exclusive copyright on the images and their reproduction for a set period of time. At least that's what my guide said a few weeks ago!