# Why can't you take pictures in museams, tours etc **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [May 26, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577 "2003-05-26T14:51:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Markxxx](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/5daacb/32.png) [@Markxxx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Markxxx)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 2:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/1 "2003-05-26T14:51:10Z")
I just got back from NYC and went to places like NBC, where you couldn’t take photos. What is the REAL reason you can’t take photos? I understand in art museams where the flash MAY errode the old paint. But is there a real reason (example copywrite laws) or do they just want to sell you the pictures in the gift shop. ---
**Author:** ![MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/bb73d2/32.png) [@MC\_Master\_of\_Ceremonies](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MC_Master_of_Ceremonies)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/2 "2003-05-26T14:55:39Z")
They want to sell you their postcards is why. ---
**Author:** ![johncole](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/5f9b8f/32.png) [@johncole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/johncole)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 2:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/3 "2003-05-26T14:58:20Z")
There could be a copyright issue if they don’t own the rights to some of the items on display, but I think you nailed it with your gift shop proposal. ---
**Author:** ![minlokwat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minlokwat/32/2844_2.png) [@minlokwat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minlokwat)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/4 "2003-05-26T15:25:21Z")
It is said that the intense light exposure created by the camera flash is not good for old paintings and that it speeds up the decay process. Is this true or not? Who knows, but that’s one explanation I heard. Also, I know the rule is in place out of consideration for other museum patrons. With flash bulbs lighting up around you, it would be difficult to enjoy the artwork when your eyeballs are constanty adjusting and re-adjusting from the paparazzi-like atmosphere. ---
**Author:** ![jonpluc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/fbc32d/32.png) [@jonpluc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jonpluc)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/5 "2003-05-26T15:35:01Z")
I believe the flash/fade thing. I used to have a LR carpet that got very noticably sun bleached because it was right in front of the big picture window.Now i dont know if photo flash=3 or 4 constant hours of daily sun exposure or not but it seems to make sence.Look what sun can do to your hair in just a few months in the summer? So it makes some sence i guess. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 6:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/6 "2003-05-26T18:04:28Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minlokwat \* > It is said that the intense light exposure created by the camera flash is not good for old paintings and that it speeds up the decay process. > > Is this true or not? Who knows, but that’s one explanation I heard. [If only there were a crack research team capable of taking on such a question](http://www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mflashphoto.html)… ---
**Author:** ![effac3d](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/b487fb/32.png) [@effac3d](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/effac3d)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 6:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/7 "2003-05-26T18:06:51Z")
Well then couldn’t they just tell patrons not to use the flash? ---
**Author:** ![FyreFiend](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/919ad9/32.png) [@FyreFiend](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FyreFiend)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/8 "2003-05-26T18:48:24Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by effac3d \* > \*\*Well then couldn’t they just tell patrons not to use the flash? \*\* All the ones I’ve been to do just that and if you use the flash anyway they’ll ask you to leave. I guess they’ve had too many people not listen so they don’t even bother trying any more. ---
**Author:** ![ooga\_booga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/b77776/32.png) [@ooga\_booga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ooga_booga)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 6:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/9 "2003-05-26T18:52:41Z")
Possibly also because many point-and-shoot cameras these days turn the flash on by default, especially if the camera senses it’s a low-light situation (like most museums). Say 90% of patrons remember to go and manually turn the camera’s flash off…well, that other 10% is still going to add up. ---
**Author:** ![aahala](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a88e4f/32.png) [@aahala](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aahala)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 7:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/10 "2003-05-26T19:01:07Z")
I’ve never heard anyone state this, but I suspect at least part of the reason is security. Try taking photos inside a bank. They’ll think you are casing the joint. ---
**Author:** ![handy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/b5a626/32.png) [@handy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handy)\ **Post date:** [May 26, 2003, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/11 "2003-05-26T22:19:55Z")
When you can’t take photos, take videos 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [May 27, 2003, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-cant-you-take-pictures-in-museams-tours-etc/177577/12 "2003-05-27T18:24:51Z")
I just returned from Europe, and in general the museums (eg British Museum, Louvre) allow photography, even with flash. It’s the churches that generally don’t, especially the larger cathedrals. And don’t even think of shooting the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel (I did surreptitiously get a shot of the floor).