Almost 2 years ago, a message was popped up to my chat box. It was from a senior director of an IT firm. That read;
"When I was shooting pictures, a guy from Ministry of Culture approached telling me, that I could not use photos for commercial or competition. Then he said
If a problem came up with these photos, help yourself! I responded: why don't you put up NO PHOTO sign. And why are you charging camera fees? "
That was a scenario in 2009 at Shwe Nann Daw Kyaung monastery. I wasn't thrilled about it. Because the little guy seems to be somehow right about what he said. But question! How can somebody judge who is shooting for what purposes? To my personal and humble point of view, it is doable as long as you don't jeopardize the image of Myanmar in terms of cultural and national values. For an instance, no photograph in a cave temple where valuable mural paintings are preserved is 100% thing to do.
Perhaps, you might have read a post here from me about "aggressive behavior of an officer" toward tour guides before Immigration office at Pansodan Road in Yangon. Again, there were "no photograph sign" to protect from these happenings. However, say, this is partly acceptable for the name sake of "security" that I doubt it is a case. Question! Who else could shoot to disgrace Immigration office on Sunday when no usual scene can be witnessed?
Last October, I was shocked by a lady
staff from Archaeology Department at Menu's brick monastery
with a group of 15 tourists in Ava. She raised a question:
What are the purposes of these tourists shooting? Is it for a contest? Is it
for an advertisement?
I simply don't know, sis. But these are tourists who love to shoot pictures.
That was my answer.
She finally attempted me to stop shooting and leave the place. What's the
problem here? Yes, the problem is that she saw all 15 tourists with hell of BIG
CAMERAS. That was it. Question! Tourists!! Should they not bring BIG CAMERA
because it can be deemed as "photographers for a contest or an
advertisement?" There are people who are rich, have passion in photography
and travel around. They are called "Money Shooters" because they are
not "photographers." What do we define here who is photographer and
who is not?
There are now places coming up that no
photographs are allowed. The best example is Srikettra or Thayaykhittaya
archaeological zone in Pyay. Let me repeat, it is archaeological zone, and not
a museum. It's the place with gigantic prototype structures from 4th AD such as
Phayama, Bawbawgyi and Phayagyi. They are solid buildings in open spaces. Let
us hear what to say from a staff of archaeology department.
"Because they, especially the new director general, don't want to see
Heineken Beer ads truck passing by those pagodas in western media."
Question! If this is a real threat, what will likely to happen to places like
Bagan and Mrauk U? I would say these are very irrational reaction from decision
makers. Shall we dispatch this to the parliament discuss about it? Period!
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On 3/19/11, Thomas Latt <thomas...@gmail.com> wrote:
> Bravo Nyi Nyi..
> I must say true.
>
> 2011/3/19 Nyi Nyi ® <nyi...@gmail.com>
>
>> Almost 2 years ago, a message was popped up to my chat box. It was from a
>> senior director of an IT firm. That read;
>>
>> "When I was shooting pictures, a guy from Ministry of Culture approached
>> telling me, that I could not use photos for commercial or competition.
>> Then
>> he said
>>
>> If a problem came up with these photos, help yourself! I responded: why
>> don't you put up NO PHOTO sign. And why are you charging camera fees? "
>>
>>
>>
>> That was a scenario in 2009 at *Shwe Nann Daw Kyaung* monastery. I wasn't
>> thrilled about it. Because the little guy seems to be somehow right about
>> what he said. But question! How can somebody judge who is shooting for
>> what
>> purposes? To my personal and humble point of view, it is doable as long as
>> you don't jeopardize the image of Myanmar in terms of cultural and
>> national
>> values. For an instance, no photograph in a cave temple where valuable
>> mural
>> paintings are preserved is 100% thing to do.
>>
>> Perhaps, you might have read a post here from me about "aggressive
>> behavior of an
>> toward tour guides before Immigration office at Pansodan Road in Yangon.
>> Again, there were "no photograph sign" to protect from these happenings.
>> However, say, this is partly acceptable for the name sake of "security"
>> that
>> I doubt it is a case. Question! Who else could shoot to disgrace
>> Immigration
>> office on Sunday when no usual scene can be witnessed?
>>
>> Last October, I was shocked by a lady staff from Archaeology Department at
>> *Menu's brick monastery* with a group of 15 tourists in Ava. She raised a