We’ve never spent an entire night in the Museum of Fine Arts (465 Huntington Avenue, Boston, 617.267.9300), so we can’t tell you about any ancient Egyptian ghosts or bronze ballerina sculptures that pirouette to life when the doors are locked. But there is one long-held secret we can reveal: the MFA has one of America’s earliest, historically significant collection of photos. Most were shot by legendary photographers, but they’re often packed away in storage. This month, however, that secret is a cause for public excitement as the museum unveils its new Herb Ritts Gallery, which will be dedicated to the art of the camera. The inaugural exhibit, “Photographic Figures,” focuses on about 75 works by a veritable all-star team of sharp shooters, including Man Ray, Alfred Stieglitz, Lee Friedlander, and Ritts himself. Photo-journalism, surrealism, modernism, landscapes, and nudes are just a few of the picture-perfect themes on display. You’ll be camera-ready with admission to the MFA ($17; $15 for students over 18).
