Decorum for Photo taking in churches, etc.

Most churches don't mind if you take photos but heed and obey any signs that say 'no photos' or 'no flash'. If there is a service going on then it's only respectful to not take photos. I take lots of photos in churches but I do tend to obey the rules, if there are any. One thing that bothers me is when you see a prominent sign saying no photos - or a picture of a camera with a diagonal line through it - then you see several people taking photos and if point out the sign to one of them, they just shrug and say "look around lots of people are doing it" as if that makes it okay.

The creation of cameras with phones has permanently altered the etiquette of people respecting the appropriate setting to take photos.

From what I observed in Roman churches I visited, it was okay to take photos. Most people are polite about it. As long as a person does not get out of hand and be respectful of the church and its visitors, it should be okay.

In the Pantheon, there were tours of people taking pictures. There was a school group of Italian children taking pictures all over.

On my recent trip to Rome, I was in St. Peter's Basilica a few times, my favorite, and I never tire of visiting. There is a prayer chapel on the right - http://stpetersbasilica.info/Altars/BlSacrament/BlSacrament.htm

It is absolutely beautiful and stunning once you enter. There is a big sign alerting visitors to turn off phones and cams and other electronic devices - the Chapel is for prayer, reflection and silence. The guard also states the same to people entering. If caught, the guard will escort you out. A couple of people tried it and were shown the big doors out. They don't mess around.

[eta: cbu, When I was in Rome this past December, I was fortunate to be a part of this celebration - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xn2oKUhopE - so moving and beautiful. It was happenstance that I received an invite.

Early that day, I was at St. Peter's; went to use the restroom; visited a gift shop on the 'ground floor' outside of the Basilica. I browsed and picked up a couple of items the Basiclia shops did not have. Upon checkout, I engaged in conversation with the woman at the counter; she gave me a complimentary invitation to attend this special Mass - "the best souvenir." Later in the afternoon, I returned. Witnessing the Pope walk down St. Peter's was really something - never forget it.

If you watch the video, you can see many people taking pictures and videoing the Pope. I did not videotape, but was elated when I found this was recorded. I can now relive that night.

On December 8 is the Feast of Immaculate Mary. Pope Francis presides over the Blessing. But, it is very, very crowded. To be in a limited environment and witness this Mass was wonderful.]

In Rome, it is expected and accepted travelers will want to take pictures. As long as Church rules are respected, it should not be a problem.

I appreciate your desire not to be disrespectful. Realize that not every church can afford bouncers and enforcers to make people behave respectfully, so getting away with it is not the same as "nobody cared". Whether there is a service going on or not, there may be people who are there to reflect and pray and don't want that intrusive flash or to be part of your vacation videos. Be aware and discrete and avoid treating the place like another tourist attraction.

No flash and no tripods. If you have a selfie stick...

Be discreet and no selfie sticks.

I'll just add when you are taking your pictures, get an exterior view, then the name (unless it's completely recognizable from the facade), then your interior shots so you can keep things straight. You can delete the exterior and sign shots later if you didn't photograph the inside.

Good advice above. "Don't be a jerk" probably summarizes most of it, but jerks don't ask so you're probably not one of them.

In addition to the obvious no flash, no tripod (or monopod, sneaky photophiles), and no selfie-sticks (amen, brother, all shall be smited!), don't forget the camera NOISES.

Camera shutter clicks are shockingly loud in the quiet places that echo every tiny noise. On most modern cameras, you can turn off the "shutter click" sound (which is actually fake and serves no purpose other than screaming to everyone HEY I JUST TOOK A PICTURE!). Also all the various beeps, bleats and tones - on most cameras you can turn them all off - the "focus" beep on most DSLRs are really loud and annoying.

Look in your camera manual (before your trip, unless like me you bring a PDF copy of the camera manual along) for how to silence the darn thing. Many cameras have a "silent mode" setting that kills all the various noises with one switch. Turn these annoyances off before you enter a church so you won't be embarrassed and (appropriately) shamed when the beeping and clicking starts.

Bless you, go in peace (and quiet).

Thanks for all the quick replies! Very good advice. I don't have a selfie stick, but I have successfully taken selfies with my camera at arm's length! I hope that will keep me out of the Inferno!
That invitation to that ceremony in St. Peters would certainly be something to cherish. Thanks for sharing the video!
I'll be asking more questions if I don't find them already discussed here somewhere!

Great cb! Reading your initial post again, you mention you're going to Italy later this year...do you mean in the Autumn or December? If so, December 8 is the official start of the Christmas season.

If you are going to Rome, St. Peter's Square has a beautiful tree each year decorated with special ornaments. In 2017, the ornaments were made from Children receiving treatment in Italian hospitals. Really beautiful.

This past year, The Nativity was artfully and beautifully created out of sand from the resort of Jesolo, Venezia. I missed the Inauguration of The Nativity on December 7 because of other plans. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=waLm9ysfhb8

Whenever you go, check out some things that you may be able to attend - either by chance or reservation. There seems to be Sometimes...happenstance events make the "best memories." My first visit to Rome, I made a few friends. This past year, I went to visit and hang out with them here and there. Really fun.

Thanks David and thanks again Girasole. Not December but during the hottest time of the year probably - second half of August and there isn't anything I can do about this timing. So if anyone has any additional advice for the 100 degree temps I'll like encounter then I'd like to hear them too. Probably it would be nice to know where I can fill up my water bottle!

To minimize the heat impact on you, get up and outside painfully early - it's cool outside, and relatively crowd-free, so an ideal time for photos without all those annoying tourists in them.

Have a good, broad-brimmed sun hat. Wear thin but long-sleeve shorts (I like linen). Drink lots of fluids, stay hydrated. Stay out of direct sun in midday. I scamper from one shady spot to another, but otherwise try to move slowly and conserve energy. Get out of the heat and take a break in a nice, air-conditioned space for a few hours during the mid-afternoon peak heat. Lighten your load, try not to be lugging a lot of stuff with you. Take it easy on yourself. Eat gelato frequently.

For all my photos, I remove the shutter sound. It is annoying and unnecessary. If a service is being held, I tend to actually leave the church. This is their place more than it is mine. Either way, I tend to take more close ups or shots that won't include people out of respect for their privacy. I also try to find a place to get out of the way and use my zoom. I have a small compact with a 30X so can use it to be more unobtrusive.

Hey cb, For your inquiry about drinking fountains, here is a link I came upon

https://www.explore-italian-culture.com/drinking-fountains-of-rome.html

Of course, I don't know the current accuracy of the reference. I read elsewhere that some fountains were shut down last year.

There is an app (maybe more current) to download if you have a compatible phone.

Check this out for fun reading: https://www.explore-italian-culture.com/romes-climate-2.html

What camera? Many, if not most church interiors are pretty dark. They are also usually very contrasty. For best results, you’ll need a camera with a large aperture lens, either lens stabilization or camera stabilization and the ability to shoot at high ISO (1600-6400) with little image noise.

I take a Gorillapod 3k with me. It has short, bendable legs you can wrap around a pew back or hold against a column. They are soft rubber/plastic so won’t scratch or mar surfaces. I heed all restrictions and make sure I’m respectful of other guests.

I also regularly use an iPhone app to trigger the camera, along with exposure bracketing to allow me to blend high dynamic range images.

The heat question. Less clothing doesn't necessarily keep you cooler, but natural fibres and loose fitting can help. If you are sleeveless, then take a light weave scarf in linen or cotton with you. I have used this as a sun shade when I realized I was getting quickly burned. I like them at least shawl size.
If possible, add water....like a wet scarf or bandana tied around your neck to cool your core.
Along with water, you might want to keep your electolytes up with something like Nuun tablets or Mio Sport liquid water enhancer (found at grocery stores). Even if not used full strength, I find it helps get me through a long, active day and any possible dehydration.

Again, Thank you everyone! Great tips for taking photos indoors and for the hot weather. I can't recall if my camera makes much of a sound or not so I'll check that out too. And thanks again Girasole for the fountain video. That's a big relief. I can now be better prepared for taking photos and dealing with the heat. I have another idea for a new topic that i'll be submitting a bit later.

You are welcome, cb. I was trying to find the link I had from a long time ago referencing a map of "nasoni" in Rome. But, I could not. Anyway, I hope the link or two will get you started. Hopefully if you download the app, it can help.

In my experience, the photo policy varies from one Church to another. Some churches allow photos to be freely taken, some require a small fee and some don't allow photos at all. Those that charge a fee often provide a small coloured wrist band so their staff know who's allowed to take pictures.

As you've mentioned, flash is banned in just about all churches, galleries, museums, etc. This is especially important in art galleries where light from the flash can degrade valuable paintings. However there always seems to be a few inconsiderate morons that think the rules don't apply to them, and they flash their way through the building until they're caught and escorted out. They usually seem to be those with P&S cameras that haven't bothered to figured out how to disable the flash.

Tripods and Monopods are banned in many places, as are the frequently reviled selfie-sticks. I vaguely recall that Tripods might be banned in some street locations too, but I can't remember the details on that.

As mentioned previously, St. Peter's is very strict and those who break any of the rules are ejected from the building very quickly. That goes for the dress code as well. Both men & women should ensure that shoulders and knees are covered in churches, especially in St. Peter's. You can find more information on the dress codes in the RS Italy guidebook.

Last time I was in the Duomo in Milan, there were signs prohibiting photos, but as usual there were lots of people snapping away. I asked one of the Priests about the rule, and he just shrugged his shoulders and walked away. Some of the smaller churches just don't have enough staff to enforce the rules.

In the Basilica of St. Francis in Assisi, there were numerous signs all over the place prohibiting photos and videos during Mass, but again the photo morons made their presence known. The Priest halted the service and issued a stern reprimand, and even with my limited Italian, I understood what he said. The reprimand seemed to have the desired effect.

I haven't visited the Borghese Gallery (Rome) in a few years but last time I was there, there were NO cameras allowed so I had to check my DSLR. There were staff in each room so those trying to sneak a cellphone photo would likely be caught and escorted out.

I always check the signs at the entrance to each facility, and if necessary pay the fee to take photos. If no photos are allowed in a particular facility, I respect that even if others are snapping away.

When I visited Milan in 2015, you could buy for 2 Euro a wristband that allowed photography inside the Duomo. That might have changed since. Without the bright yellow wristband (which they attached to my camera strap), you were prohibited from making pictures and people were approached and asked to stop.

When someone says "high ISO", usually that means something above 6400. With a good DSLR, you can go much higher. I am constantly amazed at the quality of images I get with my Pentax K-1 DSLR, which has ISO levels up to 1,200,000 or so. Grainy, yes. But the lighting is good. I don't have a flash on that camera, and almost never need one. Plus, due to the screen view, I can take a picture without the camera at eye level. That allows for some candid pictures.

Well, this wasn’t in Italy, but it’s a good and relevant story, so I’ll tell it here anyway. When I arrived in Sofia, Bulgaria, one of my first stops was the beautiful Alexander Nevsky Bulgarian Orthodox Cathedral. Inside the near empty church, I was able to purchase a photo permit for a few lev, and took various photos of ceilings, shrines, icons, flickering offering candles, and all that sort of thing. Over my days in Sofia, I found that the exterior of the church was one of those sites you could photograph from all angles, at all times of day and night, scenic shots and close-ups, over and over every time you passed. Then, on a Sunday mid-morning, I happened to wander by the side of the cathedral, and noted the distinctive and heavy aroma of incense coming out the window. So I entered again, and found the church filled with local worshippers there for the principal Sunday mass. Since there are not pews in Orthodox churches, everyone was just standing or moving around during the mass, and a standing visitor did not stand out very much. Of course, I assumed photography was not allowed during the mass, and I kept my small camera buried in my pocket. With a disparaging frown, I noted another visitor taking photos, when suddenly I was surprised to see a church employee rush up to this photographer and say, in English, “you cannnot do photography without getting the permit!” So I asked the employee, “oh, can I get a photo permit now?” Certainly he said, he took my few lev and brought back my photo permit. While I tried to do so discreetly, and think I succeeded, I must say I got some of the most lovely photos of my trip — priests waving incense holders and giving communion, worshippers kissing icons, quantities of offering candles, portraits of bearded priests in their ceremonial finery. So my two conclusions: (1) while being sensitive to the situation, remain open to wonderful and allowed photo opportunities, and (2) whenever offered a photo permit for a small donation, get one, as it’s much better to have made a small donation and not get any great photos, than to avoid the fee and later wish so much you had the permit in hand when you came upon a great shot or two. Thanks for listening, and I think I’ll go review those Sunday Sofia photos right now while I’m thinking about it.

When someone says "high ISO", usually that means something above 6400

I developed my first roll of film in 1958. For most of my photographic life, "high ISO (ASA)" was 400!

We all have different levels of acceptable image quality. Since I was a full time professional photographer for nearly 25 years back in the film days, my (and my clients) standards were pretty high. With modern DSLRs, although they can go higher, 6400 is about my limit for good quality images with good color and little chroma or luminance noise, even with noise reduction applied in post.