Maybe not for free anymore

 

The day before yesterday I told you that the National Museum of Art has a free admission, but come new year that might not be the case anymore. Due to budget cuts it looks like it's going to cost money again to visit this brilliant museum. A shame really, as there has been a big increase in the number of visitors after the admission became free, especially the number of young visitors has risen sharply. And the price for the free admission per year? A measly 10 million DKR (2 million USD).

 

Looking at the lifeboat

 

At the National Museum of Art this statue is looking at one of the most famous Danish paintings, The Lifeboat is Taken through the Dunes, 1883, by Danish painter Michael Ancher (1849 - 1927). Painted at the artist hangout of Skagen at the northern tip of Jutland, it shows the hard life of the fishermen at that time and place.

 

Don't loose your head

 
As told yesterday the Royal Cast Collection's got a lot of casts and very limited space to show them all, hence the shelves with busts. Here you can find Nero and Ceasar, Socrates and Aristotle and many, many more.

Casts are not only for broken limbs

 

The Royal Cast Collection which is a department of the National Museum of Art is a nice little museum if you like classical sculptures. Here is not the originals but a lot of plaster casts and a few replicas in bronze and wood of some of the best known classical works of art. A total of 2.500 casts are on display which doesn't give much room for the visitors. Situated in an old warehouse in Toldbodgade with a fantastic view of the harbour and right next to Amalienborg Palace, it should be crammed with visitors but as it's only open on Sundays (2pm - 5pm) and on Tuesday (10am - 4pm) many tourists with limited time end up elsewhere. The photo was shot out of the windows and show the piece-de-resistance, a bronze copy of Michelangelo's David on the quay and in the background the Norwegian naval training ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl.

What to do on a gray January Sunday?

To answer the above question, how about visiting the National Gallery in Copenhagen? This I did in January when it was indeed grey and dull outside. A nice warm and relatively quiet museum with lots of beautiful art on the walls. And cameras are not frowned upon, except if you use flash or tripods.

The Writing on the Wall

The walls at the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen have quotes and lyrics, so why not get creative with that?

In the Frame

When photographing at the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen, it's possibly to use the columns in the upper floor of the atrium at the entrance as a way to frame some of the beautiful sculptures placed there.

Explaining

This mother seems to be explaining a work of art to her daughter during a visit to the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen.

Two Women

The works of art at the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen represents almost all art forms and many periods, as these two of different women suggests.

Time for a Break

A trip to the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen can be a tiring thing, so it's good that they have a decent, though pricey, café. Be aware that it's also frequented by the local army of baby carriers so don't expect too much peace and quiet.

Is this Art?

When I'm at the National Museum of Art I must confess that I often find myself a bit baffled, when confronted by some of the works of art. This one is one example of that. I've got no clue as to the meaning of this "corpse" sitting in a chair overlooking the park around the museum. Maybe one of the custodians made a practical joke on the audience?

Good from a Distance

Some of the art at the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen can be a bit difficult to photograph as a whole, if the only lens you're bringing is a 105mm macro lens. But in the nice big atrium at the entrance, distance is no problem.

Playing around

When at an art museum with the camera, there's ample opportunity to play around with the camera; perspective, field-of-depth and lighting are all factors, that you can change. And the best thing is, that these motives don't complain and don't move, so you'll have all the time you need to experiment. This one is a model of the equestrian statue of the Danish King Frederik V that is located at Amalienborg, which is the Royal Residence in Copenhagen.

Children and Museums

Children are welcome at the Danish National Museum of Art, as long as the parents keep a vigilant eye on them. This mother surely had her oldest under control, but attention seemed more on the art than on the youngest one. As long as the children are taught how to behave, I think it's a good idea to give them a healthy dose of culture.

A father and son moment

When sated of the art at the Danish National Museum of Art, the camera can quickly be turned on other visitors. This father and son apparently needed a few moments by themselves, looking out the window and just relaxing. I wonder if the mother was the enthusiast in the family.

A Stare

When photographing sculptures you can always opt for a shot of the whole one, but I like to go for details as well, capturing something different than normal. This is one example of that. I like the stare on the statue from the Danish National Museum of Art in Copenhagen and the blur of a female in the background.

What to do on a Grey Sunday in January

What to do on a grey and boring Sunday in January in Copenhagen? How about heading for the National Museum of Art with your camera? It's free and you're allowed to take pics of the art, except in the special exhibitions. And to get the most fun out of the day, you could try shooting with a 105mm macro the whole time.

Learning From an Early Age

As a kid I was dragged from museum to museum both in school and by my parents. Even though I wouldn't have visited those places by myself, I actually liked it. Kids are naturally curious and observant, so I think it's really good that parents take their kids for a quick visit, as long as they learn them how to behave in such a place at the same time.

Simple

When photographing art I do like to keep the compositions simple, like this one from the national Museum of Art in Copenhagen. I think they make much stronger photos than when there's too many details in the frame.

Too many paintings?

At the National Museum of Art in Copenhagen they do have a lot of paintings and they would like to show as many as possibly. This, however, seems a bit extreme to me; hundreds of paintings on every wall in a couple of big showrooms. It makes it kind of hard to focus on one single painting, but that might be the idea behind this.