On September 1, after 30 years of prohibition, the Reina Sofía Museum will finally allow its visitors to photograph the Guernica.

However, in Spain, and in many other art museums around the world, the prohibition of photographing works is common. For example, the Prado Museum does not allow visitors to take any photographs within its facilities, even if it is not from the works.

What is the reason? The motivations for banning photographs are varied. The main one is that the flash of the cameras and cell phones accelerates the degradation of the pigments in the paints, causing them to lose color.

And although an occasional photograph can be harmless, when you receive hundreds or thousands of daily visitors who want to take a photo, this translates into a real risk.

Another reason to ban photos is that people usually take too long in front of the same work in order to take the perfect photo. Photo of the work, selfies, group photos, among others, produce an agglomeration in front of the work that affects the experience and enjoyment of the work.

There is also the delicate issue of copyright. The photographs make it easier for some people to commercially exploit the images without the artist or owner of the piece receiving the corresponding profits or accreditations.

On the other hand, the prohibition of photographs also has some disadvantages. Visitors may feel uncomfortable or disappointed to be able to have a souvenir photo, affecting their experience at the museum. It has also been found that younger people are less motivated to visit spaces with prohibitions that affect their forms of digital communication. In addition, maintaining this type of prohibition is expensive since it requires personnel who are constantly monitoring visitors to prevent them from taking photographs.

For example, in Mexico City, museums such as INBAL charge for the right to take photographs, this is a payment apart from the entrance fee and the right to be able to take videos. In each room, the guards make sure that you have paid for these rights if they see you using a device for it.

On the other hand, the presence of guards with specific attention to visitors taking photographs or videos is quite important and has its advantages, since it usually happens that while visitors focus their attention on the screens of their devices to find the best angle and framing, they lose track of space and accidents are caused with other objects in the exhibition.

Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't matter if the works are insured, some suffer irreversible damage. However, it is inevitable that we want to digitally capture works, exhibitions or important moments for us. Considering this, there are options that the curatorship has put into practice to allow the viewer to take photos and reduce the chances of an accident; such as marking specific points on the floor to obtain the best distance and view or even creating specific spaces to take meaningful photographs. For example, in Mexico City, museums such as INBAL charge for the right to take photographs, this is a payment apart from the entrance fee and the right to be able to take videos. In each room, the guards make sure that you have paid for these rights if they see you using a device for it.

On the other hand, the presence of guards with specific attention to visitors taking photographs or videos is quite important and has its advantages, since it usually happens that while visitors focus their attention on the screens of their devices to find the best angle and framing, they lose track of space and accidents are caused with other objects in the exhibition.

Unfortunately, sometimes it doesn't matter if the works are insured, some suffer irreversible damage. However, it is inevitable that we want to digitally capture works, exhibitions or important moments for us. Considering this, there are options that the curatorship has put into practice to allow the viewer to take photos and reduce the chances of an accident; such as marking specific points on the floor to obtain the best distance and view or even creating specific spaces to take meaningful photographs.