What is the most famous present-day object that can be seen only in person (no photographs exist)?

[tumbleddown]

@Mangosteen

When I was in Xian in 1985, photographing the buried terracotta soldiers was prohibited. One could go inside the structure to look at them, but you’d have your camera confiscated if the guards saw you take a picture.

Things might be different now over 25 years later

Markedly, it was the location of a task on The Amazing Race a couple of seasons ago.

[cochrane]

@scr4

I think there are films that are shown to the public, but no reproductions have been released. Does that count? The 2010 restoration of Metropolis, for example. Or the short films shown in the Ghibli Museum.

The Metropolis restoration has been released on DVD and Blu-Ray on November 16, 2010.

[don_t_ask]

Obama’s birth certificate?

[njtt]

@AnalogSignal

Every night we see things in our dreams that cannot be photographed.

So the contents of your dreams are famous? :dubious:

[salinqmind]

@levdrakon

What makes you think an average person would be allowed to see him in person?

I assume he walks about among us, incognito. Perhaps using another name.

[AnalogSignal]

@njtt

So the contents of your dreams are famous? :dubious:

Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed.

[Bridget_Burke]

@AnalogSignal

Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed.

Marcel Duchamp beat you to that dream…

[Mangosteen]

@Mangosteen

One could purchase photos in the gift shop taken by official government photographers, but you could take your own pictures.

Sorry, you COULDN’T take you own photos.

[Zsofia]

@GreasyJack

It doesn’t quite fit the bill as a single object, but sometimes you get viewings of dead celebrities that are open casket and open to the public. Any old schlub can show up and gawk all they like, but they usually have goons on hand to make sure nobody takes any pictures.

Although, along similar lines, Kim Il Sung’s embalmed body might fit the bill. His mausoleum is the biggest tourist attraction in North Korea-- supposedly most North Koreans are expected to visit a few times a year and if you do one of the very-guided tours it’s pretty much a mandatory stop. But it is definitely not a spot you are allowed to take pictures and security is insanely tight, even by North Korean standards. Perhaps there are some official pictures somewhere but, other than some grainy shots from his funeral, they’re not on the internet.

Kim Il Sung may be the best bet, then.

[Sailboat]

Do photographs exist of the interior of the Kaaba?

[Snickers]

@GreasyJack

Although, along similar lines, Kim Il Sung’s embalmed body might fit the bill. His mausoleum is the biggest tourist attraction in North Korea-- supposedly most North Koreans are expected to visit a few times a year and if you do one of the very-guided tours it’s pretty much a mandatory stop. But it is definitely not a spot you are allowed to take pictures and security is insanely tight, even by North Korean standards. Perhaps there are some official pictures somewhere but, other than some grainy shots from his funeral, they’re not on the internet.

Good point. Lenin’s embalmed body is similar - you can go in, but no cameras are allowed (you leave them at the desk, then pick them back up after). Unlike Kim Il Sung however, I think that pictures of Lenin in his glass casket do exist. What about Mao Zedong?

Interesting funny about Lenin’s casket: to get to it, you go down a flight of stairs, then make a sharp right-hand turn into the viewing area. But the granite walls are so highly polished, and the whole area rather dark (except for the casket, *that’s *got some amazing theatre style lighting, let me tell you) that it’s kind of difficult to see where you’re supposed to go. When Mom and I went through, two older ladies directly in front of us ran straight into the wall. Which was kind of helpful, actually; saved me and Mom from doing the exact same thing.

After they collected themselves, much giggling was had, by both the ladies and everyone who’d seen the “bump.” Which aggravated the somber guards a bit; they all frowned at us. Which led to more giggles. Not exactly the atmosphere they wanted.

[Frisco]

Isn’t this a photo of Kim Il Sung’s body?

http://www.everseradio.com/top-five-people-embalmed-for-display-not-all-totalitarian-dictators-but-mostly/

[TerpBE]

@Sailboat

Do photographs exist of the interior of the Kaaba?

Yes. (and video)

[Alka_Seltzer]

@AnalogSignal

Suppose I dream of someone painting a moustache on the famous Mona Lisa painting. This cannot be photographed.

<Family Fortunes Buzzer Sound>

Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object.

[AnalogSignal]

@Alka_Seltzer

Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object.

Everyone is theoretically capable of seeing their own version of a moustached Mona Lisa in their dreams. The Mona Lisa is an object within a dream.

[Alka_Seltzer]

@AnalogSignal

Everyone is theoretically capable of seeing their own version of a moustached Mona Lisa in their dreams.

Ah, I see what you mean, but I’m afraid I’m going to make the buzzer sound again.

<Buzz>

Everyone’s version of the moustache in their dream would be different, so it’s not the same object. Handlebar or Salvidor Dali?

[iamthewalrus_3]

@Alka_Seltzer

with the advent of camera-phones someone out there probably does have a photo.

This is pretty much going to cover the whole question.

Things that can be seen by an average member of the general public generally don’t have enough access restrictions to prevent at least a few of them from taking photographs, and the average member of the general public now carries a camera at all times.

[md2000]

No limits on photography in the 3 pits of the terracotta warriors nowadays. They ask for “no flash” IIRC but don’t seem to care.

[Elendil_s_Heir]

@Beware_of_Doug

The naughty bits of Miss Scarlett Johansson.

Or Barack Obama, or Queen Elizabeth II, or Muammar Qaddafi, or…

[GilaB]

@Alka_Seltzer

<Family Fortunes Buzzer Sound>

Unless you believe Inception was a documentary, the average joe could not see your moustached Mona Lisa in person. Nor is a dream an object.

I think you meant this. BRRRRRRRAAAAAWWWWRWRRRMRMRMMRMRMMMMM!