Why isn't flash photography allowed in the catacombs of france?

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Techwing

It serves no purpose that I can see. The Catacombes are filled with bones and stone, neither of which is particularly sensitive to flash.

The Catacombes are dimly lit and it is hard to take pictures without flash, however, if you bring a mini-tripod or set the camera on a bench or something with the timer, you can get excellent shots without a flash. People do use flash when there are no attendants nearby (there are only a few attendants, and they are widely scattered over the 1-mile length of the galleries).

zafir

Flash photography is forbidden in many such places as it can be damaging to old materials (I guess in this case the bones). It can also be disruptive to other visitors and disturb the serenity and quiet of some locations.

Most digital cameras have a 'museum' mode (or similar word) which takes great photos in little light, without the need for a flash.

Mama

I take it you haven't been to a museum in the US lately? Flash photography isn't allowed in most museums, cathedrals, churches (yes, even those not conducting services at the time), nor the catacombs.

If this is the first time you're doing the tourist thing, be prepared for the same in Vienna, London, Los Angeles, New York, Milan or anywhere else tourists gather and can damage relics, paintings or other items displayed for their view.

Thinking that its "French" is just plain silly!

For more detail as to HOW damage occurs, check this other post concerning specifically paintings: http://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20080811194714AAL2xdK

silentnonrev

maybe it would ruin the creepy atmosphere?

I saw the "no photography" signs around Mona Lisa, but everyone else was ignoring them, so I did too. Guess who the docent decided to make an example of....made me delete my pictures "or I'm going to call security"

oh well, I guess it's their country, they make the rules

Nicholas K

Well I was in France and they give you the age old excuse that it ruines the photography, BUT then again, they don't even let you take pictures in a lot of places in France even when you turn off the flash, so I think it's got many underlying reasons. BUT, when I was in the catacombes, I took a picture of a random skeleton and I didn't know that my camera had it's flash on, and when I got the picture left, it had a lightning bolt on it's forhead just like Harry Potter.. It's wicked!!! It looks like Voldemort did get to Harry after all :-P.

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