I heard that with the private Vatican Museum tours in the evening, photos or video with no flash are allowed in the Sistine Chapel. I've seen several photos that seem to prove this, but I would like to be certain.
Can anyone say for sure that the evening tours allow this? Obviously during the day guards are shouting "No photo, no video!" Does this change at night?
Photos are not allowed, ever. The flash causes damage to the painting. Not just here, but where ever you see painted art. Even our breath is not good for these antiquities. If you shoot without a flash...and can be tricky without getting caught, it might work.
The OTHER issue is..the ceiling visual right is owned by a Japanese company, so they do not want you to take a photo. Is that stupid or what? I got this from our guide on the tour 2 years ago....
That's interesting about a corporation owning the rights to photograph the ceiling. My recollection is that a Japanese company paid part of the cost of the 10-year restoration that started in the 1980's.
The Japanese NIPPON television network owns the visual rights to the images of the Sistine chapel because they supplied approximatey 4 million dollars toward the restoration. They own only the visual rights and not the ceiling or artwork itself.When I was in the chapel on May 26th there were two or perhaps three elderly guards futilely attempting to stem the onslaught of those who were unable or more likely unwilling to adhere to the no photography policy. It continues to amaze me that grown supposedly educated adults are obsessed with sneaking photos despite the posted rules. It shows a disturbing lack of character.
We were at the Vatican a month ago and everyone was taking pictures without a flash. Everyone. In our video you can hear my husband commenting on the guards chasing me down when I sat down at his feet (he got a spot on the bench) and incessantly yelling at everyone to not sit down and to be quiet, but they didn't seem to mind the pictures. I have a few. They're awful because it really is quite dark in there. I was surprised by the dark because in my imagination it is bright and amazing, when my first impression was the opposite.
Sounds like I was a fluke....
Have fun with - or without - your camera!
ps - I will admit that I was completely overwhelmed by St. Peters. Amazing!
