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My wife and I went to a Robert Adams exhibit
in Spokane today, paid $7 each admission, went into the gallery and saw many
Adams' prints. Or I should say we almost saw them. As far as I was concerned,
the lighting was just plain dim, almost "mood lighting". I'm in my mid-50s and I
know my vision in dim light is diminished, but my wife is nine years younger
than I am and she agreed it was pretty dark in there. The ceiling mounted lights
were some sort of spot bulb with an orange or pink cast (my color sense isn't
great either, that's why I prefer B&W). Is this some sort of new archival,
safe-and-sane, won't-fade-the-prints lighting? The gallery is in a new museum
that cost a gazillion dollars, so maybe this is the latest and greatest in
gallery lighting. Anyway, now that I've ranted a little and feel better - Is
there any established standard for illumination level and color of light for
photo exhibiting? Is there any authority on the subject that can be quoted
to gallery owners? Finally, is poor lighting a common problem out in the rest of
the world? I hesitate to drive 250 miles to Seattle to an exhibit and find out I
can't really see it without taking a floodlight and extension cords (probably
not allowed in most galleries anyway). I know this isn't a alt-process question,
but I suspect this group more gallery savvy than most photo groups on the
Web.
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