Photographers slam Da Vinci
Code chapel after picture ban
Photographers criticise Da
Vinci Code chapel after cameras banned over health and safety fears; Rosslyn
Chapel boss fails to respond to photographers' concerns
Photographers have
criticised a medieval chapel featured in The Da Vinci Code movie after it banned
photography on health and safety grounds blaming cracked and uneven flooring.
The 15th century chapel, near Edinburgh in Scotland, is featured in Dan Brown's
book The Da Vinci Code and subsequent blockbuster movie of the same title
starring Tom Hanks.
The chapel has long been the subject of legends connected with the 'Holy Grail'.
After the film's release, in 2006, visitor numbers reportedly shot up five
times, to 170,000.
Prior to the ban, which took effect on 2nd January, Colin Glynne-Percy, director
of the Rosslyn Chapel Trust, told the Edinburgh Evening News: 'The problem is
one we have had for quite a while because the chapel is quite dimly lit and
there are cracked and uneven slabs. When you then have a large group of people
wandering around looking at the little screens on digital cameras - and not
where they are going - it can lead to people tripping and stumbling.'
Among those angered by the move is Edinburgh-based photographer Malcolm Fife,
who told Amateur Photographer magazine (AP) that this was an example of 'yet
another restriction on photographers', suggesting instead that 'it may be a plot
to make visitors buy postcards from the large gift shop'.
Also incensed is photography enthusiast Brian Saberton, who described the news
as 'astonishing and alarming'.
In an email to AP, Saberton wrote: 'This decision seems to be yet another
example, not only of the prevailing nanny state mentality but also of the desire
of officialdom to pick on photography as something that needs to be banned.'
Despite repeated requests - over the course of several days - the chapel's
director failed to respond to our inquiries.
A message posted on the chapel's website tells potential visitors: 'Welcome to
Rosslyn Chapel. Please note that for the safety, comfort and overall enjoyment
of our visitors there is no interior photography or video allowed at Rosslyn
Chapel.'
In the past the chapel has reportedly used tape to cordon off some of the worst
affected parts of the floor.
The chapel trust apparently decided that a complete ban on photography was the
best course of action to take on the basis of the health and safety review.
Now a tourist hotspot Rosslyn Chapel was founded in 1446 by Sir William St
Clair.
Amateur
Photographer
Wednesday, 9th January 2008
Chris Cheesman
