AverageJoe
TPF Noob!
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2007
- Messages
- 918
- Reaction score
- 4
- Location
- Minneapolis, MN
- Can others edit my Photos
- Photos OK to edit
I recently visited the Taft Museum in Cincinnati, if you ever consider going there, think again, but if you are compelled to visit, do not bring your camera you might not leave alive.
Here is my complaint email:
Today, Sunday February 7th, my girlfriend and I decided to visit the Taft Museum in downtown Cincinnati. I searched the museum's website for information on photography within the museum and could not find any. I called to find out what policy was in place, the woman who answered my call indicated photography was allowed but not within the non-permanent exhibits. We arrived at the museum, paid our admission and started to head up into the museum. A very large security guard with a small tie stopped me and said I would have to leave my camera and bag somewhere. I believe his concern was I would hit something with it and damage artwork/property. We discussed briefly and it was very unclear what his issue was but we agreed I would be carful about moving around in the museum, did he think I was a 5 year old child that would run around the museum playing tag? Or perhaps since he himself was such a large individual he has trouble walking down normal sized hallways?
We proceeded upstairs into the, while examining some of the exhibits a guard shadowed us at almost every room, making the entire situation uncomfortable. I have been to MANY museums both in the United States and Europe and none of them had security guards hovering like the taft. I had maybe taken 3-4 photos and took one in a room when a guard approached me indicating photography wasn't allowed in this room and pointed to a TINY sign in the corner of the room that said (in 8pt font) Photography is now allowed. At this point I was really getting frustrated, I had been told photography was allowed in the area but wasn't told SOME of the artwork was not to be photographed.
We continued through the museum and was approached by ANOTHER security guard, he said he wasn't sure my camera was allowed in the museum and said most people only have small point and shoot cameras and tripods weren't allowed. I told him I don't have a tripod and wasn't told there were any stipulations on WHICH cameras were allowed, I also WAS NOT shooting with a flash. He asked me to wait while he confirmed what was available. He came back and told me it was okay.
I was fed up, we left the museum. I felt like I was a criminal. I completely respect a museum's right to not allow photography, but I had made every effort to adhere to the museum's policies, I spoke with the people at the front desk, they say my camera slung around my neck I wasn't trying to hide anything. Further more, there was NO ONE in the museum except for security guards walking around harassing me, perhaps the other visitors had all been asked to leave? Were they not wearing the correct color shoes?
Needless to say, I will never set foot in that prison you call a museum. I also noticed the taft is funding by the fine arts fund, a fund that the organization I work for supports. The various positions and facilities I serve within my organization allows me to provide input with respect to the fine arts fund, and it should be no surprise to you that if I have any say in the matter the taft museum will be low on my list of organizations to support.
Thanks for ruining the afternoon.
To give you an idea of what I brought: Canon 40D with a 24-70mm 2.8 lens with hood, I didn't bring a flash and didn't use my in camera flash. I also had a Crumpler 7 Million dollar bag with me slug around my back.
Like my email said, I completely understand a museum not wanting cameras in them, and I had no intention of doing anything outside of the rules, but I just could not win with these people or their rules.
Here is my complaint email:
Today, Sunday February 7th, my girlfriend and I decided to visit the Taft Museum in downtown Cincinnati. I searched the museum's website for information on photography within the museum and could not find any. I called to find out what policy was in place, the woman who answered my call indicated photography was allowed but not within the non-permanent exhibits. We arrived at the museum, paid our admission and started to head up into the museum. A very large security guard with a small tie stopped me and said I would have to leave my camera and bag somewhere. I believe his concern was I would hit something with it and damage artwork/property. We discussed briefly and it was very unclear what his issue was but we agreed I would be carful about moving around in the museum, did he think I was a 5 year old child that would run around the museum playing tag? Or perhaps since he himself was such a large individual he has trouble walking down normal sized hallways?
We proceeded upstairs into the, while examining some of the exhibits a guard shadowed us at almost every room, making the entire situation uncomfortable. I have been to MANY museums both in the United States and Europe and none of them had security guards hovering like the taft. I had maybe taken 3-4 photos and took one in a room when a guard approached me indicating photography wasn't allowed in this room and pointed to a TINY sign in the corner of the room that said (in 8pt font) Photography is now allowed. At this point I was really getting frustrated, I had been told photography was allowed in the area but wasn't told SOME of the artwork was not to be photographed.
We continued through the museum and was approached by ANOTHER security guard, he said he wasn't sure my camera was allowed in the museum and said most people only have small point and shoot cameras and tripods weren't allowed. I told him I don't have a tripod and wasn't told there were any stipulations on WHICH cameras were allowed, I also WAS NOT shooting with a flash. He asked me to wait while he confirmed what was available. He came back and told me it was okay.
I was fed up, we left the museum. I felt like I was a criminal. I completely respect a museum's right to not allow photography, but I had made every effort to adhere to the museum's policies, I spoke with the people at the front desk, they say my camera slung around my neck I wasn't trying to hide anything. Further more, there was NO ONE in the museum except for security guards walking around harassing me, perhaps the other visitors had all been asked to leave? Were they not wearing the correct color shoes?
Needless to say, I will never set foot in that prison you call a museum. I also noticed the taft is funding by the fine arts fund, a fund that the organization I work for supports. The various positions and facilities I serve within my organization allows me to provide input with respect to the fine arts fund, and it should be no surprise to you that if I have any say in the matter the taft museum will be low on my list of organizations to support.
Thanks for ruining the afternoon.
To give you an idea of what I brought: Canon 40D with a 24-70mm 2.8 lens with hood, I didn't bring a flash and didn't use my in camera flash. I also had a Crumpler 7 Million dollar bag with me slug around my back.
Like my email said, I completely understand a museum not wanting cameras in them, and I had no intention of doing anything outside of the rules, but I just could not win with these people or their rules.