Smartphones and public art displays

[Zedtom]

I was at the Cherry Creek Arts Festival in Denver last weekend. It's a public event with booths set up in the streets to showcase artists from a variety of mediums. I saw a woman with a smartphone taking a picture of some art. Suddenly, two guys from the festival staff came up to her and quietly told her to not take photographs. They said something about copyright laws and asked her to put her device away.

I immediately started looking around and noticed that no one had any cameras, and there seemed to be hardly anyone chatting on cell phones.

There must be some sort of etiquette involved in taking pictures of art that I am not aware of. It doesn't bother me, in fact it was kinda refreshing not having to deal with touristy types wanting to take pictures of everything.

 

[ElFenix]

nearly every museum on the planet disallows photography. mostly it's because the intense light from the flashes can damage the paint over time and most people can't be bothered (and don't know how) to turn off the flash.

but, yes, all designs/art/etc are copyrighted and technically you're making a copy by taking its picture.

 

[Gooberlx2]

I'd have to see what sorts of conditions are listed on the ticket stubs. I don't go because I can't afford a single fucking thing there, it's hot, crowded, loud, and generally not fun, imo.....but if they explicitly disallow casual photography of stuff like crowds, that's simply another reason I won't go in the future.

Disallowing photography of the displayed art (that's being sold...nothing there isn't for sale), is more understandable.