Eugene W. Dillenburg wrote:

> And there are extremes.  Art museums in Australia seemed particularly
restrictive (Queensland Art Gallery being an exception).  The rules and regs at
the main art museum in Sydney were so horrifically complex, the only piece I
found I *could* photograph was an ancient Chinese vase in a darkened room --
with no flash. <


How very strange-- the Art Gallery of New South Wales in Sydney is the one I was
thinking of most when writing my post to which Eugene responded--though I've
signed similar documents in Germany and the US. I came out of both QAG and AGNSW
with some good shots--there were some other things at AGNSW that I would have
shot had I been permitted, but I understand the reasons--they were works by
living artists, on loan to the museum. I don't recall anything unusual about the
photo permission form I signed (would have to dig around to find it), but
perhaps they've changed it since I was there.

But then again, Ialmost  never use flash anyway. I'm not sure whether museums
prohibit it because the rules are holdovers from flashbulb days or whether
conservators disagree about its effects. I just never seem to get a picture I
like with on-camera flash, so if it's too dark I don't bother.

David A. Penney
Exhibitions Manager
The Baltimore Museum of Art