Museums and Tripods …..

Hawkinge staff border on paranoia though; during a visit once I tried taking a picture of the three Hurricane repros outside, but I got told not to by the bloke in entrance. When I asked why not, he advised me about theft of artefacts. I explained that I wasn’t about to arrange the theft of a full scale mock up of a Hurricane, but he just got surly, so I dropped the subject. I had heard prior to my visit about the museum staff’s attitude to photography there.

Hawkinge staff border on paranoia though; during a visit once I tried taking a picture of the three Hurricane repros outside, but I got told not to by the bloke in entrance. When I asked why not, he advised me about theft of artefacts. I explained that I wasn’t about to arrange the theft of a full scale mock up of a Hurricane, but he just got surly, so I dropped the subject. I had heard prior to my visit about the museum staff’s attitude to photography there.

With regards taking photographs of small objects, when I visited Hawkinge some time ago they explained that some “visitors” had been taking photographs and then placing ad’s on ebay or other emporiums with said parts for sale, and if they raised a goodly price then the “visitor” would return and be a “remover”.

This is more understandable, as folk are unlikely to return and walk out with an air frame under their arm, so can see why some museums distinguish. It would also explain the difference between knowing items are there and sharing an image with other would be purchasing parties.

If the exhibits are behind glass, as in some more substantial museums then I should imagine it’s less of a problem than the many items wired to easy to reach boards in other/smaller museums that do not have the same security facilities.

I think this is a real issue, and a ban on photo’s is a decision that has not been taken lightly. Most folk working at the museums are also very interested in historic aviation rather than massive pay packets (if any at all!), and are very upset when articles are stolen.
Again, I’m sure, depending on the individual and the attitude etc, there are also jobsworth’s who police this ban in a less than sympathetic nature.

I always carry a bean bag with me. It’s a bag of mixed dried beans, peas and rice in a small plastic bag that’s then covered in a fabric bag. To make it you just bake the beans etc in the oven to make sure thay can’t sprout and when they are cold, fill the bag.

I have had mine for 40yrs and it’s very useful

Regards

I can echo the opinion about Newark futher up. Superb service.

East Forture had a strange policy regarding tripods. If you wanted to use one then you MUST therefore be a commercial photographer and the museum (right or wrong) claimed copyright on your photos. To use a tripod you had to apply for a photography permit.
I had no problem the last time that I was there using a tripod, so maybe they have mellowed a bit.
I shot a lot of HDR and no one challenged me

RD220 Beaufighter RAAF, East Fortune by wwshack, on Flickr

Further to my comments about East Fortune, I was down there at the weekend, with Monopod. The staff didn’t even raise an eyebrow when I held the pod high above my head to get some different angles… In fact some took interest to see how the shots turned out.

I remember visiting the Birmingham Science Museum (that was) many years ago to photograph their Hurricane and Spitfire. No problem with getting up close to these aircraft, but I had to sign a chitty declaring that I wouldn’t publish any photographs without their prior permission. A friend who visited a few weeks later with his son, was even allowed to sit his son in the pilots seat of one of them.

Have to say that at the Midland Air Museum the sensible attitude prevails – seen on their (recently updated) website quite clearly:

Photography
There are no restrictions on personal photography or tripod use within the Museum. If you intend to make commercial use of your photos please talk to us first so that we can accommodate your particular requirements.

And speaking as a long-time volunteer there, if anyone asked to go the other side of the protective barriers, then I have always been happy to oblige but mindful of avoiding accidents too (aircraft can be dangerous to crawl around as we surely all know anyway). Detail shots such as illustrated already are something the Museum is happy to accomodate – just ask!

I don’t understand the attitude at some other places either? If accompanied by someone from there, and mindful of the risks – it should be something encouraged – that’s my personal opinion

It’s only when someone goes the wrong way about things that even I get irritated….. but only because I don’t want to see someone’s day out ending in a hospital trip….

As someone who takes reference shots for modelling projects, I’d certainly echo the comments about Hendon and Yeovilton, both in regards to tripods and photography more generally. Yeovilton in particular didn’t bat an eyelid at the prospect of me crawling underneath the Scimitar, Attacker and Gannet taking pictures of the undercarriage bays and arrestor hook.

But the star prize among museums I’ve visited has to go to Newark. A brief PM to this forum’s own Howard (TwinOtter23), and I had a lift from the station to the museum, and a helpful personal supervisor who bent over backwards to let me thoroughly photograph the Javelin, and didn’t bat an eyelid when I produced a tripod! In these days of H&S mania, the fact Howard was more than happy to let me climb the access ladder, stand on the top of the fuselage and take useful shots like this one is very gratifying:

I love my monopod….not so wieldy and works ok even in low light
RAFM give a tripod pass….dont think I need one for my mono (pod that is!)

Peter, if you have a play with the colour balance your shot from Yeovilton can look more natural.

Here’s the result from a few clicks of the mouse.

As you say….some museums do not allow cameras, let alone tripods!

However, I had no idea that Tangmere had followed that route, too.

I seem to remember that on a visit to Hawkinge a couple of years back, I was told that I could not take pictures…..period!!!
No reason given, just that it was the museums rules. I wasn’t happy having travelled specifically to visit it.
Needless to say I did not spend too long there, didn’t buy anything from ‘the shop’ and am, shall I put it, ‘unlikely’ to ever return on that basis.

So I decided to go elsewhere to not too far away Manston, where they had no problem with the use of cameras at all and so when in the area, I will happily return and might even wear the T-shirt that I bought from their shop.

So it sounds like Tangmere might be another one to really consider avoiding then?

Because they don’t want you to take good photos – or even photos.

They want you to buy their own pretty photo postcards at their shop instead.

Money.

East Fortune are delighted that you take a camera, no issues with a monopod either.

They have shuffled the aircraft around since my last visit (I’m going again in a few weeks time) but the aircraft layout when I was last there was more of a deterrent to using a tripod than anything else.

Last time I was there, their Jaguar was in one of the secondary hangers pointed into the corner, knowing that there was nose art & bomb markings on the left hand side, I asked the question as was allowed around the other side.

Thats a pity. I was going to take the mother-in-law. 😀

:D:D:D

Cosford and Yeovilton have been very good about using tripods, in fact at Cosford I had a similar experience to what Brian mentions about Hendon, and I was enthusiastically allowed to take pics on the ‘wrong’ side of barriers etc.

What is the official reasoning behind not using tripods? Surely any aircraft museum struggles to get to saturation point with visitors, apart from special occasions?

I can’t understand “blanket” bannings.
Most aviation museums I’ve been to:
-aren’t that crowded that a reasonably-sized tripod is a “health and safety” hazzard
-the isles aren’t that narrow to make a tripod a hazzard. And aren’t most people smart enough to avoid something like that?

How about this:
On crowded days..when the museum is filled with kids on a field trip (usually running around and not paying much attention to the displays) don’t allow them
On other days, why not?

I know this suggestion violates the bureaucratic need for hard and fast rules…if they’re needed or not.

Thats a pity. I was going to take the mother-in-law. 😀

The Brussels museum also bans ,besides tripods, any form of bag.

Bring your tripods, monopods, Cinemascope cameras etcto the Manx Aviation & Military Museum. Even humans are welcome. If you’re lucky and we’re not too busy, you might even be offered a cup of tea to take round with you!

Our museum is there for everybody and if somebody wants to use images of our stuff then they are welcome to do so. I can’t understand why some places are so screwed up over the thought that somebody might make a couple of quid from a photo that they’ve taken of a museum exhibit.

And how big a safety hazard is a tripod anyway? It’s not as if anybody would leave it unattended. You could argue that people must keep moving whilst in the museum, or somebody people might trip over their feet!

And if anybody wants to try nicking anything, they’ll nick it regardless of photos. That’s why we have an alarm system.