Photography in London Museums

EMA747

EMA747

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Andy
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I'm off to the big smoke tomorrow for a day out and was just wondering what the deal is with being allowed to take photos in the top museums? I know it's ok in the science museum as I asked and took photos when I was last there, same in Natural History museum. Only issue in either was no tripods.

How about the British Museum and Tate Modern?

Also has anyone had any nasty experiences with carrying expensive gear around in London? I will have my 1D mkIV with me and I might be a little wary about getting it out, especially on the street for fear of attracting dodgy folks.
 
I assume by "private purposes" the British Museum not selling images? I assume putting them on here or flickr would be ok? How about use in a portfolio? I'm never too sure exactly what these places mean by private purposes.


Damn those stingy Tate people! I don't want photos of the artwork just the interior of the building!
 
EMA747 said:
I assume by "private purposes" the British Museum not selling images? I assume putting them on here or flickr would be ok? How about use in a portfolio? I'm never too sure exactly what these places mean by private purposes.


Damn those stingy Tate people! I don't want photos of the artwork just the interior of the building!
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I've seen people with cameras in the Tate before now. i doubt they had all applied for permission to use them.
 
British Museum is fine - did some stuff there a while back (think I posted them here at some point).

I also took a lot of shots of the Fiona Banner installations at Tate Britain a few weeks back and had no issues there either, and there were staff standing next to me a lot of the time. The only rule they seemed to have was no flash photography, as they told a few people to stop that while I was there. I think that some stuff in Tate Modern 'should' be OK as a few of my flickr contacts have posted shots in the Turbine Hall before.

As for carrying the camera around, I often take mine into London, and don't feel worried about it - depends where you are headed obviously, but around the central areas, Square Mile etc you should be fine - loads of people carrying cameras around in the more touristy bits anyway.

Probably more likely to be told to stop using the camera by police and private security than you are of being mugged anyway :shake:
 
Just make sure you go and see the awesome Bruce Davidson exhibition in Tate modern!
 
Best thing to do to be sure is to phone them beforehand. Some places can be funny about photography. As most tourists that visit these places have P&S cameras set to Auto the flash is fired almost all the time so they tend to ban cameras.
Advance permission is useful, I know some togs who've even managed to get in to places out of hours.
 
Canonite said:
As most tourists that visit these places have P&S cameras set to Auto the flash is fired almost all the time so they tend to ban cameras.
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That's usually not the issue in museums at all, as opposed to art gallerys.
 
DemiLion said:
That's usually not the issue in museums at all, as opposed to art gallerys.
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Just going off my own experience of places i've been where there have been strict policies on photography.
A lot of National Trust properties have the same kind of thing, though its more a ban on flash photography.
 
I have taken snaps with my big toys in Tate - no issues to report. I haven't been to their galleries though, which could be very different.

No issues walking in London with gear, as long as it is not set up for a perfect mugging. I wouldn't wander into the dark and dirty alleys (70% of London to be honest) as a precaution.
 
I use to work for the National Gallery and there is a perservation reason for banning photography in galleries.
 
flickring_mad said:
I use to work for the National Gallery and there is a perservation reason for banning photography in galleries.
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Absolutely, and the same applies to textile galleries in the V&A IIRC.

The usual issue in museums is image copyright however, or at least that's the one that's most often used as a reason.
 
Surely that is the use of flash, what about available light. I'm sure tourists were taking shots in the National Gallery when I popped in there a while back.
 
Croxteth Hall and Speke Hall in Liverpool wont allow photos, i was told one reason is copyright issues. However for example the Walker Art Gallery in the city are fine about it but you have to sign something first to say its not commercial, no flash but tripods are OK. If Londond is like Liverpool places are all different, just need to ask first on the policy
 
Thanks for all the interesting comments.

In the end I didn't really have time for much photography as the bus down was late due to a massive hold up on the M1!

I ended up just getting time to go to the Titanic exhibition at the O2 (I highly recommend the exhibition to everyone) then back into London for a bit to eat. I did get a few shots at the O2 and some at Canary Wharf.

I will try and go down again very soon.
 
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