Photography Part Two: Museums

Regular readers of the ECW Travelogue will know that I often have to apologise for poor quality photographs taken in museums. Normally this would be down to operator error (i.e. my incompetence) but on these occasions it isn't: it is down to museums becoming light airy public spaces. Great for the building ambience and visitor experience, awful for taking pictures.

But I may have found a solution (discovered at the Birmingham photography show, just like the Foldio studio). Just as my original photography post showcased a cheap, simple solution for taking photographs of miniatures; so this post will showcase a cheap, simple solution for eliminating light reflection in museums.

In use at home on a glass cabinet door - even I draw the line at taking a picture of myself using this in public.

It is called an Ultimate Lens Hood or ULH for short. They come in three sizes, and a special version for mobile phones; I've got the 'Go' model, or medium sized one (£20) which fits all of my DSLR lenses.

Strange items I own #63

ULH Go fitted to my DSLR (fits easily on to a 63mm ø lens) 

In essence a really big folding rubber lens hood. Rather than standing back from a display case, moving from one side to the next trying to eliminate reflections and glare, you position the ULH onto the display case (it isn't going to damage anything, you just look a bit silly doing it) and shoot away. So far the only downside I can see is not being able to take wide angle shots of big gallery displays.

The proof is in the pudding, albeit with a very slight difference in position taking the photo:

Without the ULH

With the ULH

A word of caution: don't be at all surprised if you get questioned and told off by museum staff. I have been told I was damaging the display case, whereas the small child (not mine I hasten to add) smacking the exhibits with a wooden sword was not. Go figure. 

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