bennison@golly.DEC (03/04/85)
--- Some words of warning about cathedral photography. Some cathedrals in England do not allow photography. Some allow it by permission only. (How do you get permission? I never bothered trying, so don't know.) Some allow photography only on certain days (Tuesday afternoons for example). Some do not allow tripods, period. Some do not allow flash photography. All have concessions that sell slides, which explains some of the prohibitions. Some have a small fee for a photography permit. Lighting conditions are very difficult in most cathedrals. I highly recommend that you write ahead to the cathedrals you plan to visit to find out the restrictions, so that you can plan accordingly and get all the permits or whatever ahead of time. I also recommend that you have a smaller bag in which you can stash what you need for a given cathedral. Many of them have towers you can climb up in, but the passageways or spiral staircases are very narrow and frequently used for two-way traffic. A big bag will really get in the way. All the things I've said above apply doubly for many government run tourist locations, e.g., Windsor Castle, the crown jewels, etc. Outside the entrance to the crown jewel exhibit they have a plastic bag hanging from the ceiling filled with confiscated rolls of film. A not too subtle warning that they mean business. Good luck and have fun. Sounds like a great trip. Vick Bennison ...decvax!decwrl!rhea!tools!bennison (603) 881-2156
jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA (John Purbrick) (03/05/85)
>Some words of warning about cathedral photography. Some cathedrals in England > do not allow photography. Some allow it by permission only. (How do you get > permission? I never bothered trying, so don't know.) I have different experiences from Vick Bennison. I've taken pictures in several English cathedrals and churches, and they don't normally restrict just plain photos, but they do tend to prohibit flashes and tripods. Those old places tend to be gloomy enough that a hand-held picture without flash is next to impossible, but if you enquire at the gift shop (was there once a guy who objected violently to commercial activities in places of worship?) they will generally let you use your equipment on payment of a fee of a pound or two. Actually, I don't grudge them any money they ask; most cathedrals are desperately poor and have heavy expenses. Incidentally, some cathedrals operate a discreetly placed "refectory" which is a good place for lunch. Try the one at Gloucester! John Purbrick decvax!genrad!mit-eddie!mit-hermes!jpexg jpexg@mit-hermes.ARPA
bennison@hare.DEC (03/07/85)
--- I did not mean to imply, in my response to the person planning to do cathedral photography in England, that you couldn't take photos in cathedrals. Most cathedrals allow non-flash, non-tripod photography at any time. Notable exceptions are Westminster Abbey and the Chapel (St. Georges?) at Windsor Castle. Without flash or tripod there is little for you to do inside a cathedral except take pictures of the stained glass windows. Westminister Abbey, I believe, was the place that had photography sessions on Tuesday afternoon, or something, like that. I wasn't there on the right day. One place I asked about a permit and was told the person in charge of permits wouldn't be in until that afternoon. I didn't have time on my itinerary to wait around. So I stand by my warning. If you are planning SERIOUS cathedral photography, you had better plan ahead or you will be frustrated frequently in your efforts. Vick Bennison ...decvax!decwrl!rhea!tools!bennison (603) 881-2156