Welcome back!
Yesterday I with my family went to Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Glasgow, Scotland. Since it was reopened a couple of years ago it has been drawing crowds like mad. I have seen toddlers, teenagers, adults everyone visiting it and having a good time – at least that is my impression of it, if someone doesn’t agree to it or has had a less then pleasent experience then please do leave a comment and share.
Anyway, on one had this place has stuff with people of all age and gender can enjoy and they really have a friendly staff. I went in there holding my 5D with 17-40L mounted on it with the Tamron 28-75 in a pouch in my other hand and snapping away like mad. No one stopped me, rather on reaching the art gallery section, the door was held open by a staff member seeing that my hands were full of camera equipment. Now the art gallery section had a no photos policy and i didn’t take any photos. I could easily have, i had the camera in my hand in full view of everyone, and no one was watching over my shoulders but I didn’t take any photos. Why? out of respect, they treated my nicely and I think I owe it to them to treat their rules and regulations with respect. Other than the art gallery the whole place was photographer friendly. Plus there was no entry fee, they had posted notices asking for voluntary donation, but no tickets of any sort. Why am I writing all this? Well if you look at what Thomas Hawk has posted on his blog about SF MOMA, I couldn’t help but draw a comparison.
Thomas Hawk had bought a family membership as a means of supporting the establishment, and on his recent visit he was seen taking photos and according to his description, was singled out from other snappers and forcefully escorted out of the premises. I mean what sort of behaviour is that? I thought they were supposed to encourage people to visit not throw them away. I am both shocked and thankful. Shocked because of the attitude shown to Thomas Hawk, and thankful for what is available to me.
Below are some of the images I took yesterday, on my visit to Kelvingrove art gallery.
1. Beatles caught on film by Harry Benson – Note: this photo was outside the actual art gallery section and hence it was ok to take photos here.
2. Display of photos of Glasgow through the ages, submitted by people living in Glasgow, showing the diversity in culture and our rich heritage.
3. A close up of the above
This statue was displayed at Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Glasgow, Scotland.
