Wouldn't it be nice to get some decent shots in the Museums?

Flightphoto

Flightphoto

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Dave
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I'm probably an idiot, but as the weather was superb me and the wife ventured to London today as we luckily had tickets to the Bowie exhibition in the V&A Museum, after that, we thought it would be nice to visit the Natural History museum. Well, I thought it was an absolutely opportunity to take my 1DX, 24-70 F/2.8 and some Yongnuo's - What was the bloody point - I had ideas about some of the dinosaur exhibits and how the composition would be but what I was met with was a blockade of immature school kids, one little sod actually walked up to one of my YN's and kicked it over and laughed in my face before running off! I know it was a bit extreme to take my 1DX etc but I thought it would be nice to make more use of it considering the crap lighting they use in the exhibits!
In the end I packed the camera away, there was no further point in taking photos as there were hundreds of the little scroats running about not even reading or looking at the exhibits, it was just a day out to mess with school friends!
I'm only 29 but I feel like an old git when looking at the current youth as they have no clear aspirations for anything including history :bonk:
 
You went with off camera flash to a museum open to the public on a school day?
 
What did you think was going to happen?...
 
I got a few rather decent shots in the NHM on Saturday. Using a "mere" Fuji XF-1. I AM an old git now!
 
The Victoria & Albert museum is reasonable but most things are under glass

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I know it was a silly idea etc! But it's just the point of it, museums are for learning and reflecting on history etc - showing respect for fellow patrons, even though they no longer charge, we still threw £40 in the kitty at the entrance. The school teachers were completely pathetic letting the children run around freely, we saw 2 kids wonder outside unoccupied!

I might just do the Midnight ticket thing - that way it'll be quiet and slightly spooky!

I've had some crazy weddings in the past to deal with when taking photos but today I met Moriarty he was definitely smarter this time :(
 
I read somewhere about a method where in a busy place you take 10 photos and merge them in photoshop and some algorithm looks at them and removes items that are not the same, leaving an image that makes all the people vanish.

Not tried it....in fact cant even remember where I read it, but if it works this could be a solution?
 
Come to think of it Steve, quite a few were tripod shots anyway, I could just clone out the walkers until I have a clear frame as the lighting didn't change at all while I was there!

The main idea I had was to light the skeletons appropriately without the crappy spotlights and glass getting in the way but after the young lad kicked out at my flash sat in the corner of the room I felt it was time to stop before I kicked him where it hurts!

My wife's also pregnant so we were trying to be careful with all the idiots bumping about etc, not that they gave a toss!
 
I've only been to the Natural History Museum once, it was on a weekday in August, and I couldn't enjoy it properly either, far too busy with scunner kids. I've been to plenty of museums on all days of the week and the NHM was the only one I couldn't enjoy. On the same day I went to the Imperial War Museum which was far more enjoyable as I could actually appreciate the exhibits without tonnes of disturbance.
 
I hadn't been to the NHM since I was a kid so a couple of years back I decided to take myself on a little trip. I was really looking forward to it as I love natural history.

Firstly, the queue was horrendous - getting in, about 20mins, getting into the dinosaurs...didn't even bother.

Secondly, the kids!!! I dislike (dislike being a kind word for me) kids at the best of times but dear oh dear. Enough to change anyone's mind about having one and was the nail in the coffin which confirmed never to go back there.

Shame that it's such a tourist attraction - I really wanted to see the dinosaurs!
 
This reminds me of when my dad and sis went to the Louvre in Paris, on a weekday, and then grumbled about all the children "running around" - what did they expect?:thinking:
 
Flightphoto said:
I know it was a silly idea etc! But it's just the point of it, museums are for learning and reflecting on history etc - showing respect for fellow patrons, even though they no longer charge, we still threw £40 in the kitty at the entrance. The school teachers were completely pathetic letting the children run around freely, we saw 2 kids wonder outside unoccupied!

I might just do the Midnight ticket thing - that way it'll be quiet and slightly spooky!

I've had some crazy weddings in the past to deal with when taking photos but today I met Moriarty he was definitely smarter this time :(
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So you went with a large amount of photographic gear, and got ****ed off with people ruining your shots (ok, kicking a flash is out of order).

I personally find photographers in museum the most singular irritating thing there is in the whole place. The Danish Castle I was in over the weekend was filled with people firing flashes off left, right and centre. You couldn't happily look at an exhibit without some b****r blinding you.

Walking around with a huge camera (on a tripod), placing flashes about the place is hardly the thing to do in a museum IMO.
 
Phil Young said:
Firstly, the queue was horrendous - getting in, about 20mins, getting into the dinosaurs...didn't even bother.
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TOP TIP

When it's busy go round the corner to the Geological Museum. Walk straight in and then enter the back of the NHM via a quick 2 min walk.

David

PS - agree with all the comments about ferral sprogs, but I think it has always been thus. And now I have two boys of 8 and 4 I can see why the kids act like they do in the museum - excluding acts of flash vandalism that is.
 
Personally I find the architecture makes for much better pictures than the exhibits...

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Flightphoto said:
I'm only 29 but I feel like an old git when looking at the current youth as they have no clear aspirations for anything including history :bonk:
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I think you'll find this has always been the case. To most kids history is pretty boring and I was never interested in it. My interest has grown as I have got older though.

If my school had been allowed into the NHM the biggest concern would be would be around one of the kids attacking another visitors with a dinosaur bone (rough school!)
 
Yup, we were those kids once.

I'm 37 and can still understand this when we go places and there's gangs of pre and young teens hanging about, looking for mischief. I just think 'that was me once'

Off-cam flash at a public museum?? You didn't half feel entitled eh!? :D Those kids, messing or not, had as much right to be there as you, sorry.

I've taken pictures at a few museums, in Dublin, London, ST. Louis, New York - there were tonnes of kids at all of them - I didn't bother anyone with flash, I used natural light. Up that ISO ...
 
Willid1 said:
TOP TIP

When it's busy go round the corner to the Geological Museum. Walk straight in and then enter the back of the NHM via a quick 2 min walk.
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Didnt know you could do that, nice one :thumbs:

I went two weeks ago to see the Salgado photo exhibition and there was a half mile queue outside the front door! Never seen anything like it. I thought i was going to miss my ticket entry time so just jumped the queue much to the amusement of everyone else waiting :)
 
Just clout the sods across the head, enough to leave a mark anyway. Always works for me as when they start complaining or acting like the 'hard man' at least then they know i'm there.
 
RjLPhotography said:
Just clout the sods across the head, enough to leave a mark anyway. Always works for me as when they start complaining or acting like the 'hard man' at least then they know i'm there.
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Just saying, hope you never try that with my kid. If there is an issue you need to raise it with the teacher/parent, unless of course beating up little kids makes you feel hard?
 
RjLPhotography said:
Just clout the sods across the head, enough to leave a mark anyway. Always works for me as when they start complaining or acting like the 'hard man' at least then they know i'm there.
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Ummm.....think you missed a smilie or something to show this was a tongue in cheek comment.
 
Well, I'm planning on going on Friday (with my kids)... and looking forward to it a lot less all of a sudden! D:

Willid1 said:
TOP TIP

When it's busy go round the corner to the Geological Museum. Walk straight in and then enter the back of the NHM via a quick 2 min walk.

David
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Nice, thanks for this.
 
Flightphoto said:
Come to think of it Steve, quite a few were tripod shots anyway, I could just clone out the walkers until I have a clear frame as the lighting didn't change at all while I was there!

The main idea I had was to light the skeletons appropriately without the crappy spotlights and glass getting in the way but after the young lad kicked out at my flash sat in the corner of the room I felt it was time to stop before I kicked him where it hurts!

My wife's also pregnant so we were trying to be careful with all the idiots bumping about etc, not that they gave a toss!
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Well, you've seen why carting a ton of kit around a popular museum is a very bad idea! You also have to to be careful you don't fall foul of the many wonderful health and safety regulations which govern everything (but which seem to exclude the behaviour of marauding children). My advice is to enjoy a day trip with a good quality compact camera, you'll still get great shots and you won't have the burden of all of that heavy equipment.

I remember going to the NHM when I was at school and it was wonderful, really fascinating, but back then we were expected to stay fairly quiet and orderly, so that other people could enjoy their visit. Unfortunately that isn't the case these days, I've been to museums and attractions where I've been virtually flattened by kids, with not even a glance let alone an apology from the teachers. And pretty much everywhere has now been turned into a "family zone" to the point where I often feel that I'm either excluded or else I'm expected to defer to every badly behaved brat I encounter. And I have to say that so many of my outings have been ruined for those reasons.

I must say you sound quite unusual in respecting the learning process and noticing that kids today are badly behaved - so I applaud that. Overall I would advise visiting places out of season when they're usually a bit quieter, and avoiding peak times of the day.

I'm going to get shot to pieces for this, but I live for the day when some establishments have an "adults only" weekend here and there. Not remotely PC of me, but I'm past caring.
 
Sectionate said:
So you went with a large amount of photographic gear, and got ****ed off with people ruining your shots (ok, kicking a flash is out of order).

I personally find photographers in museum the most singular irritating thing there is in the whole place. The Danish Castle I was in over the weekend was filled with people firing flashes off left, right and centre. You couldn't happily look at an exhibit without some b****r blinding you.

Walking around with a huge camera (on a tripod), placing flashes about the place is hardly the thing to do in a museum IMO.
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I would agree, I think I would find a photographer setting up his "mobile studio" with off camera flashes all over and bags of equipment far more annoying than a bunch of kids running around.

I would suggest wanting to do a full photo shoot should be organised out of normal hours and not while you would be an annoyance to every other visitor to the museum. It's this attitude that causes museums and other public places to bring in blanket "No Photography" policies.
 
If anyone's planning a NHM visit, the Salgado exhibition is well worth a visit. TBH, I though the tenner entry fee was a bit steep until we saw it all! Enjoyed it so much that I'd do it again if I was more local! My wife (a non photographer) enjoyed it so much she wanted me to buy her one of the books - so she'll have to wait until Christmas to unwrap it, even though she knows I bought it! (Hard to disguise summat that size - the limited editions were rather larger too - not to mention a bit more expensive!!! [NO WAY am I paying 2 1/2 grand for a book...{she's just reminded me that the really expensive one was 7 grand}] I'm not much of one for buying photography but I'm glad I was talked into buying it [for her, of course!!!])
 
Lindsay D said:
I'm going to get shot to pieces for this, but I live for the day when some establishments have an "adults only" weekend here and there. Not remotely PC of me, but I'm past caring.
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Agree with you and I had a kid (although he didn't live with me which was lucky seeing how much they annoy me :)).
 
Dave1 said:
I would agree, I think I would find a photographer setting up his "mobile studio" with off camera flashes all over and bags of equipment far more annoying than a bunch of kids running around.

I would suggest wanting to do a full photo shoot should be organised out of normal hours and not while you would be an annoyance to every other visitor to the museum. It's this attitude that causes museums and other public places to bring in blanket "No Photography" policies.
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Indeed, and the establishment might also assume you're shooting commercially and will either escort you out or suggest you pay their 'professional photography fee'.

However I still find ill-mannered children vastly more annoying.

'No photography' policies in museums are almost always down to reasons of Copyright and the restrictions placed by the owner of the exhibits. Otherwise they might have 'no commercial photography' and 'no tripod' rules etc.
 
Lindsay D said:
I'm going to get shot to pieces for this, but I live for the day when some establishments have an "adults only" weekend here and there. Not remotely PC of me, but I'm past caring.
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I don't think you'll get shot for this, and you shouldn't. As I say I'll be taking my kids on Friday, but I don't think anyone would begrudge people the opportunity to see it without all of that hubbub.

I guess as has been mentioned going off season or late at night should help, although at night you're going to struggle even further with the light.

Willid1 said:
Anyone been to one of these?

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/whats-on/after-hours/lates-master-card/index.html

I wonder if the adults are any better behaved?

David
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That doesn't impose an age limit as far as I can see, so you're not guaranteed to be free of kids. In theory they should be better behaved as they'll be accompanied by their parents... but that doesn't always ring true either.
 
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I'm surprised they let you set up off camera flash, in a place that busy you were a hazard, if one of those 'orrible kids had come a cropper because of your equipment you might have had an even nastier time.
 
Merluza said:
I'm surprised they let you set up off camera flash, in a place that busy you were a hazard, if one of those 'orrible kids had come a cropper because of your equipment you might have had an even nastier time.
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I checked a couple of weeks ago and tripods aren't actually allowed:

http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit-us/facilities/

Photography
You can take photographs and videos for personal use in the Museum unless otherwise stated, but the use of tripods is not permitted.
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I love some of the assumptions soo far, I didn't take a Peli case with me :)

It was literally the 1DX, 24-70 and 2 YN's with the tripod so nothing compared to all of my kit :-p

I just wanted to get some decent lit shots without the influence of crap lighting on the skeletons, on one of the exhibits, the flashes were either side underneath the skeleton so they were out of harms way, I was in a deadzone corner where nobody would go near. I made the choice not to get in people's way as they clearly weren't bothered about the history of it all anyway!

We also had a word with the guard before hand just to stress that it was purely for nostalgia (they were doing knife checks etc) and no commercial gain was to be made, he was totally fine with it and took my details just in case!
 
I wasn't the only one with a tripod either! There was a Nikon guy wondering about with his too!
 
Flightphoto said:
I wasn't the only one with a tripod either! There was a Nikon guy wondering about with his too!
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The problem is that if somebody had tripped over your tripod then all sorts of legal issues could ensue. We might suppose they would try to sue you, but they are more likely to attempt to sue the museum for failing to impose their regulations or act in the interests of public safety. And I agree with the previous commentator, tripods in busy public places are quite annoying at times. Plus you don't need one to be honest, as has been said just crank up the ISO. If somebody catches a tripod leg your camera could also end up getting smashed. It's not worth it.
 
Lindsay D said:
I wonder what the guard was intending to do with your data? Did you offer him your details or did he request them?
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So the museum could supply them to the "no win no fee" lawyers when someone sues for tripping over the tripod or the flashes?
 
I partially offered my details just as a way of showing that I was honest etc, with regard to the tripod, it wasn't in the way of people, I always made sure that there was no chance of it being knocked over - anyway, don't you all throw the strap on your neck when using a tripod? :)

It's not like I was in anyone's way at all other wise I wouldn't have got my gear out, bearing in mind that I had my 1DX etc you could imagine how careful I was. The reason I was angry with the lad for kicking the YN was that it was in a corner where NO one could physically walk into it etc!

All I wanted to do was take some photos with a bit of a difference using some different technicques that I enjoy!
 
When doing museums or any sort of tourist attraction, you need to get up early and be first in........ I had a hoot in York (in February), I listed out the main attractions and visited each one first thing in the morning and/or as soon as they opened.
If you roll up on weekdays expect coach loads of children an hour or so after the opening time.
 
I'll just try next time etc, gives me time to prepare! - Without a tripod to make certain people happy ;)
 
Flightphoto said:
All I wanted to do was take some photos with a bit of a difference using some different technicques that I enjoy!
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Nothing wrong with wanting to do that Dave, but you have to follow the rules otherwise you can get into a whole load of hassle. And you can also lose the moral high ground if you're complaining about the conduct of other visitors (even though you were doing your best to be considerate). Not that I equate your actions as being anywhere near as annoying as some of the children, it's just that children are allowed to get away with pretty much anything - but you or I would not.

I'm sitting here trying to work but it's a fruitless exercise because there is a child currently screaming the place down two roads away and the parents make no attempt to deal with it. I know what I would have got, if I had done that at her age. A few years ago things got to the point where it was impossible to cope with the noise in the street from two girls in particular who screamed constantly and swung on a willow tree opposite my home. One evening I went out and I politely informed them that if a branch breaks they will end up with broken bones. As a result they ran bleating to their father who banged on my door and told me that if I ever spoke to his little girl again he would break every bone in my body. Now, we can't do anything about atrocious children or pathetic irresponsible parents - but we can at least control our own actions and try and set a good example. Sad and pointless as that sounds these days.
 
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