Turn the dam lights on!!!!!!!

The Spitfire Society AGM at Hendon last Saturday, presented a chance to catch up on the new, to me, exhibits and to squeak off a couple of shots of the three Spitfires. With only my little pocket digi Canon Ixus, set to ‘nil flash’ and bracing myself against something solid, the first two in the main hall – well not too bad. The shot of X4590 in the BoB Museum hall – well what can you say. 😮

All were treated to identical PSP enhancement.

Mark

If only it was common. Unfortunately the “Claim Farmers” have convinced many people that they really shouldn’t have any of this uncommon sense and that everything that happens to them is someone else’s fault.

The “Dark Age” that Mike J refers to is already upon us. Just spend an hour watching daytime satellite TV and you’ll see the adverts. “Dozy bint slips over on a polished floor – call Ambluance Chasers.com and we’ll get you thousands of pounds”.

I can’t believe a humble tripod can seriously be termed a health and safety hazard? I always believed tripods were banned to stop professional photographers taking pictures of exhibits and flogging them, to the detriment of museum shops? I’m sure I read this in regard to East Fortune?

Regarding photos at the science museum, does anyone know why the McLaren F1 car has “no photography” signs around it??? Didn’t see any such signs elsewhere in the museum.

LOL, I knew what this thread was going to be about even as I clicked on it!

Obviously your reputation preceeds you Robbo! 😀

Tripods are a pain in both directions. 😀 Having been a museum guard, I’ve had to manage some people with tripods, which can be a no win situation, when your curator’s bearing down. And for the full fun effect, a TV crew can’t be beat for cheek and damage.

On the other hand, lots of museums seem draconian in a completely un-neccesary way. Pocket tripod and min-digi works for me (never been stopped or ticked off) and I’ve got shots you couldn’t get any other way, good enough for magazine and book print quality.

had my first visit for years recently, forgotten how dark it is in places, esp. the B of B hall, although the millstones of flight hall isnt bad…. anyway for comparison with Robbos shots heres a couple of my hand-held efforts..

:rolleyes:
Thanks for the correction Spey, looks like I hit a guard on an off day. I have used a tripod on a quiet day, but I asked the last time I visited, when the reception was full of kids there for the Lord of the Rings extravaganza, and I think his answer may have been driven by the anklebiter ratio!

Go on, start a Science Museum thread! 😎

Cheers

I was at the Science Museum three weeks ago using a tripod. I didn’t encounter any problems. Even one of the guides came over and started talking about digital cameras etc.

There are no signs as such (Not that I saw anyway) and nobody else challenged me. Later in the day I also went to the Imperial War Museum where tripods are definetly not allowed but it was quite light so not really needed.

I have some pictures from the Science Museum if anybody wants to see.

Best regards

Many thanks Robbo.

You don’t need big equipment, but Robbo’s advice stands.

I’ve given up with 35mm conventional at Hendon, but I turn up with my mini digibox, turn the flash ‘off’ attach it to the pocket tripod, put it on a railing, set, floor etc, and bang off a pic.

The darker corners are still too dark, but I’ve got what I want in most places at Hendon with it. IMHO it’s a lot better than trying to blast the subject with flash, which for me rarely gives decent results I’m happy with.

A full size tripod makes life easier, and you just ask at reception, and there’s no problem getting a pass and permission. However the Science Museum, for instance, equally dark, won’t allow tripods. So back to the pocket item.

HTH

Nice shots Robbo – but just a quick question re. contents as I’m not at all au fait with what’s at Hendon. Is that a B17 I see in top left background of the Lanc photo? And what sort of colour-scheme is it in (orange cowlings and so on)?
Many thanks, D

ps. Tigercatno1fan – when I read the title of this thread I thought you were referring to some sort of dam raids night-time reenactment – sounded pretty cool. In fact I’d love to see it! I think you meant “Damn”.

they are good robbo thanks everyone for your help im just now trying to digest it all 😉 , heres one that i thought were ok.

Robbo, have you used on camera filtration in the past to get the correct colour balance in your longer exposures or do you prefer to edit digitally later?

Rob, I’m not sure at what level of camera you need to get that amount of control. Having dropped my Olympus C-300Z a few weeks after I bought it 🙁 I can’t see most of the display but I don’t think I’ve got that many options. Next time I go to Hendon I’ll take my 35mm Olympus OM-2N and a tripod. I know how to drive it and with a maximum automatic exposure of 2 minutes it should cope with even Hendon’s lack of light.

Went around the Museum in March with my Nikon Coolpix 2100, as it is a handy size to put in my pocket. Will take my Minolta the next time. Stronger flash. The attached images I have had to play around with them to get any half decent picture at all.