Comments on: Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art Doesn’t Like Your Camera. Why? http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/ Enlightened Adventure Wed, 23 May 2012 06:12:24 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v= By: Andrew http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-8003 Andrew Thu, 05 Mar 2009 16:04:02 +0000 http://byteful.com/blog/?p=123#comment-8003 Thanks for stopping by, Robert. :) In some cases, flash photography can have a negative effect on older artifacts because flash is a form of radiation. If you want to bypass this whole charade, I suggest learning how to photograph without using the flash at all. You'll get a more natural light and greater depth in your photos, and museums won't be able to use that excuse anymore. (Tip: Try turning your camera's ISO speed up to at least 400 ISO when photographing indoors without a flash.) You'll notice that the number of photos in the <a href="http://byteful.com/media/" rel="nofollow">gallery</a> that use flash is still zero. And that's not an accident. I don't like how flash flattens the appearance of a photo; and by developing a steady hand and taking shots at different ISO values (not to mention taking A LOT of photos), I've been able to completely avoid flash photography. Thanks for stopping by, Robert. :)

In some cases, flash photography can have a negative effect on older artifacts because flash is a form of radiation. If you want to bypass this whole charade, I suggest learning how to photograph without using the flash at all. You’ll get a more natural light and greater depth in your photos, and museums won’t be able to use that excuse anymore. (Tip: Try turning your camera’s ISO speed up to at least 400 ISO when photographing indoors without a flash.)

You’ll notice that the number of photos in the gallery that use flash is still zero. And that’s not an accident. I don’t like how flash flattens the appearance of a photo; and by developing a steady hand and taking shots at different ISO values (not to mention taking A LOT of photos), I’ve been able to completely avoid flash photography.

]]> By: Robert Johnson http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-7987 Robert Johnson Thu, 05 Mar 2009 04:01:53 +0000 http://byteful.com/blog/?p=123#comment-7987 I ran into a similar situation today when I tried to photograph some old objects at a local museum. The curator was very positive that my small point and shoot flash would do damage. This myth needs to be corrected. Is there any scientific studies or other information you know of to combat this ignorance? I ran into a similar situation today when I tried to photograph some old objects at a local museum. The curator was very positive that my small point and shoot flash would do damage. This myth needs to be corrected. Is there any scientific studies or other information you know of to combat this ignorance?

]]> By: Andrew http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-7550 Andrew Sun, 08 Feb 2009 00:34:14 +0000 http://byteful.com/blog/?p=123#comment-7550 At least Detroit's museum allows photography under certain conditions. MCA didn't provide any decent explanation of why photography was prohibited throughout the museum and, combined with unfriendly guards, created a very unwelcoming place to the modern traveller. Fortunately, this was the only place in Chicago that I felt hostility towards the use of my camera, but I expect more from a high-profile museum such as MCA. Am I being unreasonable? At least Detroit’s museum allows photography under certain conditions. MCA didn’t provide any decent explanation of why photography was prohibited throughout the museum and, combined with unfriendly guards, created a very unwelcoming place to the modern traveller.

Fortunately, this was the only place in Chicago that I felt hostility towards the use of my camera, but I expect more from a high-profile museum such as MCA. Am I being unreasonable?

]]> By: Dominique http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-7527 Dominique Sat, 07 Feb 2009 06:05:11 +0000 http://byteful.com/blog/?p=123#comment-7527 Too many places don't allow cameras these days, and many of the policies are so blatantly based on bucks, rather than even legit copyright concerns or concerns about the possible effects of flash photography on fragile materials. How else can you explain policies like the pro hockey arena here in Detroit that doesn't allow cameras with lenses longer than than 80mm, even at games that don't involve pro teams? I couldn't find the camera policy for Detroit's Museum of contemporary art, but the Detroit Institute of Art's relatively restrictive camera policy is online http://dia.org/museum_info/general_information/Camera_Policy.pdf Too many places don’t allow cameras these days, and many of the policies are so blatantly based on bucks, rather than even legit copyright concerns or concerns about the possible effects of flash photography on fragile materials.
How else can you explain policies like the pro hockey arena here in Detroit that doesn’t allow cameras with lenses longer than than 80mm, even at games that don’t involve pro teams?
I couldn’t find the camera policy for Detroit’s Museum of contemporary art, but the Detroit Institute of Art’s relatively restrictive camera policy is online http://dia.org/museum_info/general_information/Camera_Policy.pdf

]]> By: Roaming Tales » Carnival of Cities: From marbles in Kansas City to snow in London http://byteful.com/blog/2009/01/chicago-museum-of-contemporary-art-doesnt-like-your-camera/comment-page-1/#comment-7502 Roaming Tales » Carnival of Cities: From marbles in Kansas City to snow in London Thu, 05 Feb 2009 23:31:44 +0000 http://byteful.com/blog/?p=123#comment-7502 [...] USA: Byteful Travel presents Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art doesn’t like your camera. We can change this. The post explores “the eye-grabbing and playful exhibits” and discusses the [...] [...] USA: Byteful Travel presents Chicago Museum of Contemporary Art doesn’t like your camera. We can change this. The post explores “the eye-grabbing and playful exhibits” and discusses the [...]

]]>