Flash photography

Jennifer Queree <jennyq [at] barn__southern__co__nz> writes

>It has just been suggested to staff at our museum that we are party
>poopers in not allowing flash photography in the exhibit areas.
>Further, that we are one of few museums in the world still following
>this creed.

What do you mean 'one of the few museums in the world still
following this creed'  I definitely think you are in the majority
here.  I think there is an argument that a few flash photographs are
better than continued high-lux exposure necessary for still
photographs, but then there is the choice of limiting total light
levels (esp. at blue - violet -> UV end)

Many museums operate a total ban on photography (partly from
copyright issues,) and some have designated 'photo times' but most
still restrict these times to non-flash, and having to make do with
the light level in the museum as decided by the curator/conservator.

There is a need to limit the total light exposure for objects at
risk from damage, and this should be done with regard to ambient
light.  If the public wish to take photographs, they must then bring
a light meter or whatever, and use the light level as dictated by
your institution.  The objects have been entrusted to your care, and
it is up to you to do what you think is best for those objects, so
stick by your guns.

Simon Hogg
Imperial College, London, UK.

                                  ***
                  Conservation DistList Instance 10:17
                 Distributed: Thursday, August 8, 1996
                       Message Id: cdl-10-17-006
                                  ***