Since this is a thread related to photography in general, I feel it best belongs here. Something I have noticed in place such as museums with "no photography" policies from the experience of both me and others is that the staff will sometimes tell you off/bark at you in quite an aggressive manner if they catch you breaking such a policy. I am wondering why this is, when staff usually try and act in most scenarios in quite a polite manner. Acting in an unpleasant manner like this is just going to cause somebody to refuse to return, and at the end of the day, there's nothing wrong with most forms of photography (in one such museum where I saw this happen to somebody else, there was no blanket photography ban but certain paintings had a no photography sign stating "copyright reasons"). Many places have more liberal policies to photography now than 10+ years ago - you can now bring cameras into most music venues and many museums, whereas there was a time when most (at least in the UK/Europe; I think some in the US have been fairly liberal on photography for a long time) banned them. I understand having a "no flash" policy, and these tend to be enforced far less rudely. As far as I know, copyrighted works can in practice be photographed (nobody is going to sue you) but the photo may only be for personal use.
There was one place, a model railway in Britain's Cotswold region, where I recall the staff member at the entrance telling people in quite a rude, abrasive manner, "Do not take any pictures!", and despite signs also reminding people, she felt the need to periodically come round and remind people of the policy. Telling people in a polite manner "please would you refrain from taking photographs while in the exhibit" would be far better.
Do you know why photography is something that gets many private places which don't like it very worked up when in most scenarios it doesn't need to be? I only understand getting worked up if it's in an area where photography would present a security risk, which is not the case in privately run attractions.
There was one place, a model railway in Britain's Cotswold region, where I recall the staff member at the entrance telling people in quite a rude, abrasive manner, "Do not take any pictures!", and despite signs also reminding people, she felt the need to periodically come round and remind people of the policy. Telling people in a polite manner "please would you refrain from taking photographs while in the exhibit" would be far better.
Do you know why photography is something that gets many private places which don't like it very worked up when in most scenarios it doesn't need to be? I only understand getting worked up if it's in an area where photography would present a security risk, which is not the case in privately run attractions.
