Digital Cameras forbidden in Egypt ?

Hi,

I'm french, and I'm about to spend 2 weeks in Egypt (Cairo, Luxor,
Aswan). Somebody told me thta the cameras are forbidden on the Pyramid
Site. I thought only flashes were forbidden in the graves.

Could anybody tell me if this is true ? Is it really forbidden to take
pictures of the Pyramids ? It seems strange to me.

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

Tarkus.

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

Hi,

I'm french, and I'm about to spend 2 weeks in Egypt (Cairo, Luxor,
Aswan). Somebody told me thta the cameras are forbidden on the
Pyramid Site. I thought only flashes were forbidden in the graves.

Could anybody tell me if this is true ? Is it really forbidden to
take pictures of the Pyramids ? It seems strange to me.

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

Tarkus.

It's absolute rubbish, whoever told you that aught to be locked up in
the sub chamber of the Great Pyramid without food or water for a week
) The only places you shouldn't use a camera whether digital or
otherwise are at military installations, the Lower Nile Barrage north
of Cairo, the lower dam south of Aswan (upper dam OK) and the
occasional high profile police HQ and if the taking of photographs are
banned at a place it is very clearly notified. You can even take
photographs inside museums etc. although you will have to pay a fee to
do so and a higher fee for using flash and an even higher fee for using
a tripod.

A caveat though, at sites including the pyramid sites you may find
yourself surrounded by guards and guides offering to take photographs
of you standing against some site with your camera. By all means let
them, but, don't be surprised if they start demanding baksheesh after
they take it.

Canopus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

Hi,

I'm french, and I'm about to spend 2 weeks in Egypt (Cairo, Luxor,
Aswan). Somebody told me thta the cameras are forbidden on the
Pyramid Site. I thought only flashes were forbidden in the graves.

Could anybody tell me if this is true ? Is it really forbidden to
take pictures of the Pyramids ? It seems strange to me.

Thanks in advance.
Regards.

Tarkus.

It's absolute rubbish, whoever told you that aught to be locked up in
the sub chamber of the Great Pyramid without food or water for a week
) The only places you shouldn't use a camera whether digital or
otherwise are at military installations, the Lower Nile Barrage north
of Cairo, the lower dam south of Aswan (upper dam OK) and the
occasional high profile police HQ and if the taking of photographs are
banned at a place it is very clearly notified. You can even take
photographs inside museums etc. although you will have to pay a fee to
do so and a higher fee for using flash and an even higher fee for
using a tripod.

A caveat though, at sites including the pyramid sites you may find
yourself surrounded by guards and guides offering to take photographs
of you standing against some site with your camera. By all means let
them, but, don't be surprised if they start demanding baksheesh after
they take it.

PS. You will also have to pay extra to take your camera into the Great
Pyramid. This came as a surprise to me last time I was there, but, as
I had taken lots of photos in it on previous occasions when there was
no charge I managed to leave it with the chief of police in his Land
Rover. You could probably leave it with the Pyramid guards too.

Rob

It's absolute rubbish, whoever told you that aught to be locked up in
the sub chamber of the Great Pyramid without food or water for a week
)

It's one of my relatives,
and your proposal seems to be a VERY good idea :-))

Thanks for your message...

Tarkus.

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

It's absolute rubbish, whoever told you that aught to be locked up
in the sub chamber of the Great Pyramid without food or water for a
week )

It's one of my relatives,
and your proposal seems to be a VERY good idea :-))

Thanks for your message...

Tarkus.

It's a pleasure. When are you going? I'm there for almost six weeks
from 25 July spending five days in Cairo before going to Alex then Siwa
and from there across the desert, military permission and four wheel
vehicle willing.

Rob

On 30 Jun 2005 20:27:07 GMT, "Canopus"
wrote:

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

I'd like to add something. In some of the tombs, especially at the
Valley of the Kings, there are signs there asking you not to use
flashes, for obvious reasons. You can get a good shot of the artwork
by time exposures with a tripod.
When I was there nobody was about to enforce this rule and some
idiot was popping off pictures with a flash. Wonder what damage he
caused?

Stephen, Hong Kong.

on 01/07/2005 wrote:

On 30 Jun 2005 20:27:07 GMT, "Canopus"
wrote:

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

I'd like to add something. In some of the tombs, especially at the
Valley of the Kings, there are signs there asking you not to use
flashes, for obvious reasons. You can get a good shot of the artwork
by time exposures with a tripod.
When I was there nobody was about to enforce this rule and some
idiot was popping off pictures with a flash. Wonder what damage he
caused?

Stephen, Hong Kong.

In fact the guards often encourage you to use flash and then demand
baksheesh...they are on very poor money at even Egyptian standards.

Rob

"Canopus" wrote in message
...
on 01/07/2005 wrote:

On 30 Jun 2005 20:27:07 GMT, "Canopus"
wrote:

Tarkus on 30/06/2005 wrote:

I'd like to add something. In some of the tombs, especially at the
Valley of the Kings, there are signs there asking you not to use
flashes, for obvious reasons. You can get a good shot of the artwork
by time exposures with a tripod.
When I was there nobody was about to enforce this rule and some
idiot was popping off pictures with a flash. Wonder what damage he
caused?

Stephen, Hong Kong.

In fact the guards often encourage you to use flash and then demand
baksheesh...they are on very poor money at even Egyptian standards.


I've have the same experience. No flash allowed, unless you give the guard a
pen....
I've no clue if a few flashes will damage the paintings.
In several temples, the guards where showing tourists the most important
drawings using a candle.
They force themselve onto the tourists, even when you tell them not to join
you. Of course all for a baksheesh.
I can the imagine the soot doesn't help preserving the drawings.

Be prepared to pay a lot of baksheesh. Every photo of a person or animals
(the owner will magically appear).


Jan

Jan on 04/07/2005 wrote:

I've have the same experience. No flash allowed, unless you give the
guard a pen....

LOL...BIC BIC. In fact any pen with non Arabic writing on it

I've no clue if a few flashes will damage the paintings.
In several temples, the guards where showing tourists the most
important drawings using a candle.
They force themselve onto the tourists, even when you tell them not
to join you. Of course all for a baksheesh.

Best time to visit the sites in the Valley of Kings etc. is around mid
day. There tend to be a few less tourists in the mid day heat and
often the guards are snoozing. We had to climb over three sleeping
guards in one tomb and then used the ticket they didn't collect in
another As far as forcing themselves on tourists etc. that can be a
pain especially when you can't understand them and when you do
understand them it becomes obvious they don't know what they are
talking about. One showed me a fresco and told me it was Horus, I kept
telling him no, it is of Tahuti (Thoth). If you know what you are
looking at and know the ropes it is easy to tell them you don't kneed
them as you are a professor of Egyptology even if you are not.

I can the imagine the soot doesn't help preserving the drawings.

Be prepared to pay a lot of baksheesh. Every photo of a person or
animals (the owner will magically appear).

I've heard about that, but, it has never happened to me. Most
Egyptians I have met are only too pleased for you to take a photo of
them, they feel honoured. On the other hand I've often thought it
funny and charming when Egyptians ask you to join them in a photo that
one of them is taking. Evidently they then show it to their friends
and tell them that it is "us with our foreign friend".

As of a couple months ago cameras aren't allowed in the Cairo Museum. You
now have to check them into a booth out front. I spent the month of May in
Egypt. If interested, some pictures are at:
http://home.hawaii.rr.com/pat/MapLinks.htm I don't claim to be an expert.