Museum of Photographic Arts

There are different types of museums in Balboa Parks. MOPA, museum of photographic arts, often exhibit photos are related to history and cultural from all different places. Museum is free on the 2nd Tuesday every month. They also have student discount. This museum shows many breath taking photographs. Visitors may have chances to see some famous photos at this little museum. I like how this museum categorizes groups of pictures. I had seen some nature landscape photos taken from different time periods, but they were grouped together in order to give viewers a sense of photographers’ intentions. I saw some landscapes became art works and some became propagandas to promote moving to the west coast of the U.S. These photos bring viewers back into another time period, yet MOPA’s selection lead viewers realize more details in different aspects. more

The Museum of Photographic Arts has to be my favorite museum within Balboa Park. The photographs on display are simply amazing. Currently on display is an exhibit entitled "Landscapes at 100 Megapixels" with unbelievable landscape shots that are worth the price of admission alone. The museum offers student/senior/AAA discounts, and also has a nice gift shop with its own vintage photo booth. If you're at Balboa Park, please stop by! more

Movies have really progressed over the years, or have they? The Museum of Photographic Arts is a great place to learn about the history of movies and the changes they have survived through the years. My girlfriend and I had a chance to attend an all night event that showed movie trailers from the 60's and 70's. There were Hitchcock trailers for Psycho and The Birds, and other classics. The event opened our eyes to the fact that the style has completely changed. Current trailers almost tell the whole movie in 15 seconds, the classics were able to create suspense and intrigue without giving away the plot. more

This museum is located in Balboa Park. The last time we were at the Museum of Photographic Arts they had a tintype photo exhibition -- where old photos were painted over to create little interesting creatures. They also displayed the works of Lewis Carroll. Other exhibits they usually run are Mexico/Tijuana border documentary photos from the 1940s and 1950s. They also frequently screen classic movies in their screening room. The museum is fairly small, but the exhibits are usually information and entertaining. There is a small gift shop as well. more