David,

When I wrote that flash photography was a no-no,
i meant for patrons, not a single exposure in a controlled environment. I suppose that I was unclear. We have taken a digital photo of our art, but not under the best circumstances. Those items will have to be done over. The smaller, scanable items were what I was refering to. I plan to scan our collection for the Maine Memory Network and want to burn CDs so the objects will not be handled more than necessary. I was concerned about scanning exposure and what limitations should be set in place for the objects.
Since this is your field, I will take your word. However, before I can implement policy on these, I need a written source. So, if you could recommend a few, I would appreciate it.

Shawn M. Weisser

"David E. Haberstich" <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>Shawn,
>
>Yes, there are good reasons to forbid repeated exposure to flash photography
>in an exhibit or gallery setting.  You don't want 1000 visitors per day
>popping flashes at the same objects.  Also, in the days of flashbulbs, there
>was always the risk that a flashbulb might explode, showering glass shards.
>This is certainly a good rule for museum visitors.  But you asked about the
>staff photographing and/or scanning collection objects, presumably in a
>controlled setting, and that's the difference.  A single, 1/1000 of a second
>blast from an electronic flash is definitely safer than ten minutes under hot
>floodlights, and many museum photographers, on the advice of conservators,
>have been doing it that way for decades.  Although I'm not a conservator
>myself, I'm a photographic historian and have done a lot of flash photography
>with 19th-century photographs, so I have some knowledge in this area.
>
>I can try to find a supporting reference for you if you still don't believe
>me, but it will have to wait a day or two.
>
>David Haberstich
>
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