Photos at the Museum

After our meeting today at the Maison des Polytechniciens, we walked across the street to the Musee d’Orsay for a tour and then dinner in the dining room. Our very large group broke into three groups for guided tours. I enjoyed listening to our tour guide, who provided lots of insight and interesting history about and behind the art. However, she made a comment that really disappointed me. She said that she and the other art historians think that people who take photos while visiting a great city or a great museum are missing the essence of the place. I strongly disagree. Yes, I agree that one needs to be in a place to feel the place. I don’t take a photo to prove I’ve been there. I take a photo to 1. capture a view that one cannot see when faced with the whole scene, 2. remind me at a later date of the feeling I had while I was in that place, 3. share something interesting with someone who is not there with me. Overall, I had a wonderful night at the museum, even if the guide’s opinion on photography was short-sighted.