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I'm surprised they allow photography in art museums anyway. Even putting aside the "buy a print at the gift shop" argument, you're taking a picture of a painting. What's the point? Are you really going to be looking through your photo album for pictures of the Mona Lisa?

Have an experience for once that doesn't exist through the lens of a camera. A famous painting isn't something that can only be seen once in a lifetime by traveling to Paris.

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I take photos (where allowed) of artworks simply as a reminder that I liked the piece, not to preserve a realistic reproduction of it. In that sense it's like any other photograph - I'm capturing a facsimile of my experience.

Regarding the article, I think flash photography should still be banned, simply because it makes for a better museum experience. Can you imagine the crowd in front of the Mona Lisa? It would be like red carpet for the Oscars.

Many times they don't allow people to photograph pictures, or at least they ask people not to use the flash. Unfortunately, about 8 out of 10 people don't listen or they can't figure out how to turn off the flash.

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