OT: Photography--good manners

Sounds like you're a more serious/dedicated photographer than I am, but bringing home nice photo memories is important to me. I took several thousand photos on our trip to London, Paris and Normandy, including images of beautiful works of art in museums. But it's really pretty black-and-white to me. If the venue says "no photos" then no photos it is. Period.

Agreed. Sometimes it's a copyright issue, sometimes it's for the comfort of the other guests. I got stuck in the Borghese the last time I was there behind a group that included a young woman who would strike a pose in front of every famous statue or painting, while someone else in her party took her picture. Grrrrr. And the Louvre is ridiculous. So many folks holding up their cameras, phones, and (the worst) tablets to take photos of the art that it's almost impossible for the rest of us to enjoy the museum.

And once at St Peter's in Rome, I was attending Mass, standing behind a rope barricade, and a woman shoved me out of the way so her companion could take her picture, with the altar as background.

Please folks, if it says "No Photography," please honor it. And if photos are allowed, please be considerate of others. I'd like to think that most of us are there to see the art, exhibits, or religious services.

I agree. Not only is it respectful to honor these places and those rules that come with them, but for those of us "vertically challenged" (short!), it makes it really, really difficult to see over those with huge camera and tablets lifted in the air. You re so right, Jane. I thank you Ray for posting this.

It's actually very easy. When in doubt, (politely) ask. I find it amazing that people can't/won't read signs or ask. Flashes deteriorate art. Animals get nervous. Sometimes it's a matter of privacy for people or places. Traveling anywhere is about respect.

Non-travel disclaimer: I have a horse who's very sweet but bites. On my 100ft fence line there are 3 signs that say horse bites. Ignorant/illiterate/foolish people, mainly adults, stand in front of the signs to pet my horse. "Oh, I didn't think the sign was real". Duh? (Sorry to rant.)

Agree, agree, agree! Especially considering what most people are going to do with those photos - nothing. I love going to museums where "no photos allowed" is posted, knowing it will be a better museum experience.

Some of the comments from your posting reminded me of my least favorite photo experiences - a lady posing in front of the Shroud of Turin display last year while the rest of us were sitting in the facing pews - not just one photo, but several different poses. Selfie sticks ANYWHERE - ugh! And, the Borghese Museum poser must have been in Venice last year, too, because we had the same experience. My hubby has a great photo of human behavior that he took in the Louvre - he stood at the back of the room where the Mona Lisa is displayed and took a photo showing the crowd of people taking selfies.

People using flash(against the rules) ruined the nativity scene of the Rockettes Christmas show when we went to see it here in Birmingham. Since then, I've tried to avoid patronizing that venue that made no effort to enforce their own rules.

And if photos are allowed, please be considerate of others.

True that.

Also people shouldn't take photos of other people without asking permission. Worse, don't take pictures of children without asking their permission AND their parents' permission.

If an individual is the center of attention, absolutely true (obviously, not so true with crowd or street shots!)

Since then, I've tried to avoid patronizing that venue that made no effort to enforce their own rules.

I dislike that as well. In the Valley of the Kings, guides and sometimes tomb guards are willing to look the other way, often for amazing small amounts of remuneration. When in Tut's Tomb a guard asked "You want picture?" and I told him "No, it isn't permitted." Our guide for the tour was furious about people snapping away and would go to other groups to remind them of the "no photo" policy. Good guy for sure.

Lots of good points here.

I'm right there with you all. I love to take photographs, but I try to respect where I am at the time and to not intrude on other people, taking a photograph or not. Also, I don't get why all these people have to be in all their own photographs...WTH? If I'm in my photo it usually ruins it, LOL.

Just follow the rules wherever you see them in regards to photos and use your coins to buy professional photographed postcard when you can't get a photo.

I would add that every modern artist is likely to object if you photograph their work either at a fair or in a gallery. By reproducing it whether you intend to sell it or not, you violate thier copyright.

As a non-photographer, I hate being with a group that are all taking photos. I am especially resentful when I am asked to move away from something I'm looking at in order for someone else to take a photo.

It's a matter of respect. Taking photos when asked not to is disrespectful.

This irritates me, also.

As a non-photographer, I hate being with a group that are all taking photos. I am especially resentful when I am asked to move away from something I'm looking at in order for someone else to take a photo.

Good point. However when 15 people would like to take a photo and there is only person standing there blocking the view, it is also annoying. Perhaps people can work together? I appreciate it when people step away for a moment or two. It has also happened (many times) that I was in a spot first, and someone strolls in front of me, turns to look to see I am taking a picture and doesn't move an inch. I believe in being polite to everyone so I am not a photographer who wants 5 minutes with no one else in the shot. I come prepared and ready to shoot. Personally, I like about 10 seconds with no one in the way, but that appears to be too much to ask of people. For what it is worth, I am also annoyed by photographers who "hog the scene." Those who stand in front of everyone (whether others are photographers or not) take multiple shots, push people out of the way or ask them to leave, and then check their shots while everyone else is waiting.

Instead of wasting time trying to get the "best" picture, your time is spent really observing and thereby focusing on what you're there to see.

I have never asked anyone to move, just stood by and watched while one person blocks a view for both photographers and non-photographers trying to see. While this is pretty far off the original post, it is interesting that someone knows how other people should best spend their time. I'm not sure everyone would agree that taking photos is a waste of time, or that, in looking for the best shot, photographers don't actually see more of a scene in some or many cases. In any event, my basic motto is "live and let live." Both photographers and non-photographers have the capacity to either be rude or polite. IMHO it is nicer to be polite and realize everyone has their own goals and to try and accommodate as many as possible.

And if I can expand for a moment on a point MrsEB made earlier: in this day & age of the huge expansion of social media, more sensitivity & discretion needs to be extended when it comes to shooting pictures of children. Asking permission is always advisable but you don't always know who the parents are. I am an experienced photographer and basically my rule of thumb is "when in doubt, don't!". A child on a swing on a playground at a school may seem cute but it is not a "tourist-type picture" and better left to taking this picture of your child back home. However, if say you are on the Place du Tertre in Paris & a guy has a brightly colored parrot that he is placing on the shoulders of people including children, if the parent allows this on their child, they have to expect people will be shooting away. My experience is, both home & abroad, parents are much more aware now of people pointing their cameras at their kids & their concern rises proportionally.

I'm an avid photographer myself, but, yes, it can be overwhelming. Sometimes all you can see is a mass of people holding phones over their heads.

Also being an avid photog, I feel your pain. Yes, there have been many images that I wanted to take with my own camera, but respected the guidelines. Yes, today with camera phones and small P&S it is almost impossible to "police" it. It is all a matter of conscience.

One time I did politely ask a guard if I could take ONE picture. She said yes, but only ONE and NO FLASH......and don't tell anyone else....lol. It was inside a library. Even though my camera was set up for multiple shots, I did not do that. I respected the request for one.

One other time I was in a concert hall. I asked three different security people about taking a picture. I got three different answers.....from "no" to "no problem". That was confusing. Sometimes you can ask "one on one" away from the groups and maybe it will work out, but "no means no". Oddly enough I ended up having a lengthy conversation with the "no" person. She went out of her way to get some free extra literature for me. That conversation was more valuable than any image I could have taken.

The "selfie" thing with a famous artwork or building drives me crazy, but that is just me. It seems as though the selfie stick is slowly becoming a dinosaur.

The "selfie" thing with a famous artwork or building drives me crazy, but that is just me.

No John it isn't. It would take too long, but I have wonderful examples, such as the guy who hogged almost all of Iguazu Falls with selfies (he was about 6'5" and had his arms spread like a vulture.) Just as some non-photographic people can be annoying, photographers can be just as annoying. I have numerous stories of "selfie-takers" ruining many of my shots or hogging the scenery. As I said before, it isn't a question of whether you enjoy photography or not, it is a question of being (as least slightly) polite to others who likely: spent as much money , traveled as far, have their own interests, and may never be in this spot again as people who "hog or block" the shot. Something just as annoying to me (as an aside) from photographers is the "cheesecake" models. They are usually young people who think they are models and do numerous poses (sometimes 20 or 30) in front of famous sites/art work etc.