I am usually not a big fan of taking photos in a museum. This was again confirmed last weekend, when I visited Museum Voorlinden in the Netherlands. This museum encourages visitors to take photos and even allows visitors to bring their big DSLR into the museum. Every artwork was therefore heavily photographed.
What is everybody doing with those photos? Isn’t that the reason why you go to a museum?
Eventually I couldn’t resist and used my phone to shoot some images (I didn’t bring my camera to the museum). The first artwork I took was a picture of a beautiful sculpture made by Antony Gormley. The 3D artwork turned into a 2D artwork on my phone. It didn’t look anywhere as spectacular on my phone as it did in real life.
In my opinion, such photos doesn’t do justice to the artwork. However, this changed when I took a photo of a painting made by Wayne Thiebaud. It looked great on the photo.
But again: now what? I have two photos and don’t really know what to do with them. I could print these photos and hang them in my living room, but that doesn’t feel good. Next time, I think I will just enjoy the art in a museum without bothering to take photos.
I think it depends on what the photographer is trying to achieve. If just a record shot, then no problem. In my own circle of photographers (a camera club where creativity is encouraged) it is generally seen as showing another persons art, unless the photographer has shown some creative input of their own. An example of that may be introducing an extra element or two that has a connection to the art piece being photographed.
I agree, if the photographer has a creative approach to show someone else their artwork, I think that should indeed be encouraged? However, the majority of people visiting a museum cannot really be called a photographer nor are they taking creative shots. They shoot images like those included in this post and I don't really see a purpose for that. But probably it can all be related to the changing society, where the phone (and also camera) have become an everyday object for nearly everybody.
I think the purpose is for a record shot.