Sydney Opera House bans selfie sticks

Australia's Sydney Opera House has joined a growing list of cultural institutions worldwide to crack down on the use of the telescopic camera attachment that gives a wider field of view for "selfie"-style photographs, media reported on Monday.

Sydney Opera House was the most instagrammed site in Australia in 2014, Xinhua news agency reported.

A spokeswoman for Australia's national icon confirmed taking photos during performances is prohibited, however, they do permit visitors to take "selfies" outside the Sydney landmark and within the building's foyer.

"In fact, for our summer and Vivid campaigns this year, we produced precinct maps highlighting the Opera House's best selfie spots," she said.

Opera Australia -- which uses the Sydney Opera House for it's performances -- encourages selfies during performance intervals, however, only at arms length and not with a selfie stick.

"I love that people want to share their opera experience with their friends by taking selfies," Opera Australia Artistic Art Director Lyndon Terracini said. "I'm more than happy for audience members to do that before the opera beings or at interval, but not during the production when it could disturb performers or other patrons."

Australia's National Gallery of Victoria in Melbourne, the National Portrait Gallery, and the National Gallery of Australia in Canberra have all banned the telescopic attachment camera attachment, also known as the "wand of Narcissus."