camera etiquette

Can anyone provide any guidelines about camera etiquette? Are there any places that it will be disrespectful to take pictures of or in? We are use to not using a flash in art musuems. But is it acceptable to take picture inside churches?

Will Spaniards be offended if we do not ask permission prior to taking their picture?

We would like to have pictures to remember our trip by, but do not want to step on toes or be ugly americans who thrust a camera where it is not wanted.

Well, this is not a science, but I'll give you some guidelines:

You may take pictures inside churches as long as there is not a mass in progress. In certain churches flashes might not be allowed (for art conservation).

Do not take pictures of policemen or certain sensible areas (army buildings, police stations,...). You could make someone ask you why are you taking pictures, and that can be an embarrasing situation being a tourist.

As for people, as long as you don't put your camera at one inch you would probably have no problem . But if you doubt, ask first

Fernando

Thanks.

We have found that customs vary by country. Some galleries in London & Isreal will not even allow you to take a camera in, and some Christian churches in the Carribean forbid it as well. We are jewish, and in our synagogue taking photographs in the main sanctuary is taboo, flash or otherwise.

We would rather not offend anyone.