Photography in museums?
 

In general, is photography allowed in the major museums in Paris? Are their clear signs posted?

I know that in most art museums I've visited in NYC, they do not allow any photography. The guggenheim comes to mind and a particularly nasty security person...

Thanks.

There are "no photography" signs in the Louvre, but everybody ignores them from what I saw. No one stopped me from taking a few pics.

[This message has been edited by empedocles (edited Mar 12, 2004).]

From Louvre's website:
From d'Orsay's website:
[This message has been edited by yk (edited Mar 12, 2004).]

I recall non-flash photography ("pas de flash!") being permitted in the Beaubourg & I have several nice shots from there.

go with the flow. if others are taking pictures go ahead,provided you don't have this huge setup - tripod, lights...
DONT use flash though.

The post from the web site at the Louvre is pretty self explanitory. You definately can take non flash photos there. The exception is special exhibits where the organizers of the exhibits may require different conditions.

The only place we had problems taking pictures was the Mona Lisa at the Louvre. It's absolutely forbidden there. Although people tried to take pix. I hope the guy I stepped in front of enjoys his picture of my back (hehehe).

Flashes are a serious issue with paintings. Although your one flash might not do any damage, when you multiply it by several hundred thousand per year...besides, it can be annoying to be in a museum like the d'Orsay and have flashes going off.

My wife did a good job with our Sony digital sans flash in the Louvre and d'Orsay. Both museums are well-lit.

I read this from somewhere recently (sorry, cannot remember my source http://www.flyertalk.com/travel/fttr...um/redface.gif). One camera flash on a painting is equivalent to 3 days worth of direct sunlight.

Photography in musuems
 

I'm an art historian, so I'm pretty expert on this.

Most (but not all!) Paris museums allow photography if it's with a hand-held camera and without a flash. Many museums elsewhere have this same requirement. It used to be much more liberal; someone mentioned the Guggenheim. Years ago the Guggenheim let you photograph anything, even work from loan exhibits. No more! Two guards nearly got into a fight trying to determine who had the right to yell at me not to photograph. The Whitney recently banned photography. It's really pissing me off.

Anyhow, Paris is better. But you can't photograph at the Marmottan and a few other places, and you can't photograph temporary exhibitions.

When I last looked at the Mona Lisa (I try to avoid it when at the Louvre due to the crowds) there didnt seem to be a problem with non-flash photos. Have a few myself. The problem is its usually so surrounded by people you cant get near it. Maybe it was just the time I was there, it certainly wouldnt surprise me if there was some variable enforcement at the Louvre. On a recent visit I spent an hour or two in a closed gallery with a few other people. Kind of nice to look at the Donatello and Michaelangelo sculptures without the damn crowds. They had signs up saying the galleries were closed but a few people wondered around and no one seemed to care. I love France :cool: I tried a similar thing at the British Museum and was given the impression, very politely of course, that in a few more steps I would quite likely be meeting some members of Her Majesty's Special Air Service. ;)