Church photography

rs,

Most churches and similar places will not allow a Tripod or Monopod, as they tend to obstruct the movement of other visitors. There could be a few exceptions, but I suspect you'll have to get used to using other "creative" means rather than a tripod. What kind of camera are you using?

It may depend on the location. I can't imagine them allowing you into the Duomo in Florence with a tripod since it would be a hazard to others-tripping, etc. You might be able to slip in with a monopod and use it discreetly. Smaller venues without crowds may be easier, but I would not count on it.

Take along a Gorillapod that you can clamp onto a pew without getting in anyone's way..

Most I suspect will have a sign in front, with pictorial symbols indicating their policy on photography.

Another concern would be if the place has a security/bag check area they might not even let you in with a tripod in hand or bag.
I would try and got to each website before hand and see if a photography policy is listed.

As others mentioned the ban on tripods is usually related to crowd control and preventing injuries but have also seen places concerned that you are a pro making money off of the photography if you use a tripod so want you to pay for their permission.

Would be great if there was a reference of major tourist attractions and their photography policies but I have never come across anything like that.

I think you would not attract any attention with a monopod in most circumstances. Heck, I saw a guy lie down to take photos in St. Zeno's in Verona. Also. I've had great luck with the handheld night setting on my little Canon S100. It takes 4 shots quickly and stitches them together with software.

I've generally done ok just setting the ISO high enough to hand-hold at a decent shutter speed (Canon SL1).

I don't recall seeing anyone using a mono or tripod in any Italian church or museum we've been to, and they are largely forbidden due to risk of damage to people or objects (accidentally or intentionally), crowd obstruction, and wide bans on professional shooting without paid permits.

This is just my humble philosophy to please don't take offence. Museums and churches are normally packed with sightseers and, especially in churches, the lighting is pretty poor. These conditions lead to poor pictures at best. At worst, photographers are a real annoyance to other visitors.

As these venues are incredibly expensive to keep up, and the nominal entrance fees don’t come close to covering their expenses, I usually purchase the small information booklet which is full of professionally taken photographs. It’s my way of contributing a little extra and coming away with much better pictures than I could have ever dreamed of taking myself.
Yes, I come home with quite a collection of brochures and booklets, but I account for that in the trip planning process.

work2travel I understand your reasoning but your comment about the poor lighting is the exact reason the OP is asking about bringing a tripod.

And if the OP could bring in a tripod and be allowed free reign (not saying they should be) why would the brochures have better photos than he/she could take themselves? I consider today's technology vastly improved over just a few years ago so unless these brochures are printed with new photos constantly and printed to the highest standards bettering them really should not be that hard for a professional photographer with a modern camera, tripod and time. Other tourists can easily be erased with software provided you take enough photos from the same position.
On the other hand if these busy sites did not set restrictions there would be chaos.

I tend to think there will be a no tripod AND no monopod rule at most everywhere indoors where a collection of tourists is likely to also be.

The only place I can ever recall where Monopods were Ok but tripods were not is on the Top of The Rock (Rochefeller Center in NYC). I have no idea why they make a distinction but they do.

Mreynolds, the different policy you've seen on monopods v. tripods is probably because tripods more easily trip people.

I rarely have any problems photographing churches and cathedrals with my DSL. The low lighting is rarely an issue and my shutter speed can be high enough that a tripod is not needed. In museums where photos are allowed, the DSL never has a problem since lighting is better.

Other camera types will vary in churches depending on light levels, zooming and how steady your hands are. But from what I have seen in other's photos, the quality is not nearly as good. If you don't have a DSL, you can usually work with a small Gorilla Pod to provide some discreet stability. But you won't be able to stand in the aisle and set something up.

Museums almost always prohibit any kind of tripod/monopod/stability-enhancer.

One reason your own photos are not as good as the ones in brochures is usually spotlighting, which when aimed at a painting will leave a big light circle on your photo. I have seen people try to work around this by moving about, but that distorts the image. I have tried it myself.

I have gotten a few great no-flash photos inside churches, but it's a small percentage overall.

Tripods and monopods are considered professional equipment and require a permit to use. Aside from that, sites will not allow either of them because of the damage they can cause and the hazard they produce. Most sites won't allow them to go through the security check point because they could be used as a weapon.

I would leave it at home or in the hotel. I've never taken mine and have found that with a higher ISO and a fast lens you really don't need a monopod or tripod. You might want to get a small bean bag that you can carry with you to use to hold the camera on a bench or flat railing.

Donna

Donna's advise on the beanbag is a good one. Not sure they actually make small ones for photography though, they usually take up more room in a bag. Worth looking into though, as I think any type of tripod or monopod is not going to be allowed.
They make some extremely small tripods that fold up onto the camera, not sure how useful they are in these locations since they stand up about an 1" or 2" but you might be able to use them without drawing attention. Google Manfrotto Pocket Tripod for such a device which if attached to the camera will look like part of the camera and not a separate item.

Zoe, if I were photographing the inside of a historic church and had permit/permission to do so I would never use any spotlighting or flash. Only if you wanted a person in your photograph would you do that,
You would set the ISO at base (usually lowest ISO) and use a tripod taking multi second exposures for each shot using only natural light coming in from the windows. You would need to bracket to capture the full dynamic range from dark interior to the light coming in from the windows, especially if you want to capture the detail in the windows themselves. Multi-second exposures and bracketing without moving the camera cannot be done without a tripod or similar support. You can crank up the ISO to reduce the exposure time to make it possible without support but lose quality when doing so.

Here are a few to consider:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/buy/tripod+support/Ntt/bean+bag/N/0/mnp/0/mxp/50.00

There are others on the market that are smaller. Get one that will support the size of the lens you decide to take.

Donna

mreynolds, thanks for the tip. I was referring to the spotlights that the church or museum uses to illuminate the paintings (which the photographer cannot control) - I never use a flash in a church or museum, ever.

No flash allowed. No tripod allowed. I was able to take photos in every church except St Marks in Venice and Sistine Chapel.

I love taking photos in churches and museums (and night shots in the city). Low light requires very slow shutter speed which results in motion blur unless you steady the camera. I keep the ISO low to maintain the fine details and to reduce the image noise, which only requires even slower shutter speeds. I brace the camera firmly against any horizontal or vertical surface, e.g. pew, railing, column, garbage can. I take great shots of ceilings by laying the camera on the floor and setting timer. I push the shutter and step back. I always review photo immediately, zoom in on the details in the image to make sure photo is sharp. If not, just repeat. I sometimes decrease the manual exposure compensation to reduce shutter speed, which will darken the image. This effect can be desireable. Some images look better when dark.

Work2Travel don't take offense with my reply- my photos are almost always better than what can be purchased, but more importantly, I don't do paper photos, only electronic which rarely can one get on site. I don't sell my work, it's only for my enjoyment. Around the world, I either make a donation, pay a nominal fee, or buy something I don't need or want, so as to contribute to the church/venue in exchange to raking my own photos.. I never use a flash, nor have I ever carried a tripod into a church. In Bergamo Alta, I recall a chapel where no photos were allowed at all and they were very strict. In those situations I can only imagine they want you to buy their material. I don't and I leave reviews about this and I don't want someone else's photos.. In Castiglione Olona Borgo Antico (near MXP) there was an incredible church and they charged 10€ to photograph the site.... Which I gladly paid. Since I was the only person there, I guess I could have used a tripod, but I have camera equipment that does not require it. Low light glass and hi ISO usually does it.

I never saw anyone using a tripod when we were there, but I can't say whether it is against the rules. In many churches, I felt sheepish bringing out my camera at all, as many people were there to pray and worship and I felt a little disrespectful clicking away with too many photos (though for the biggies like St. Peter's Basilica it is a free-for-all!). Some churches like San Marco in Venice prohibit photography, though I did not notice this being enforced. Oh, and in the Sistene Chapel, there are sadly no photos allowed (I hear it is due to them selling the copyright to the images)....lots of people were trying to covertly take them anyways, but as it turns out, your whole tour group will get kicked out if they catch you (they don't just kick you out)!!

Humorous anecdote alert - At the Basilica di Santa Chiara in Assisi, it is forbidden to take pictures when in the lower level, where the preserved body of Saint Claire is displayed. The only ones I saw violating this policy were the nuns, furtively snapping photos (of their patron saint, I'm guessing).