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The Pursuit of Imperfect Pictures

14/10/2015

 

Here's why you should make memories, not manufactured moments. 

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Can you imagine editing out all the people in Istanbul's spice market?
Have you heard about this new editing mode from Adobe that helps you digitally erase other tourists from your vacation photos? "Monument Mode" can distinguish moving items, like cars and people, from static ones like monuments and lets you adjust your image accordingly.

My first thought was “Great!” After all, who wants to remember crowds of selfie-stick wielding travelers when you can grab that classic shot? But the more I thought about it, the less I liked the idea. You don't need editing programs to get great photos. And, in fact, you might be much happier with some not-so-great photos. Here’s why:
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Does it really matter that these sweet girls are blocking a view of Istanbul's Blue Mosque?
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Don't miss kitty at the Acropolis!
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The crowds at the Pearl Harbor Memorial bring real emotion to this shot.
Classic photos are boring photos.

I’ll admit it – I wish I had an absolutely impeccable photo of the Eiffel Tower. But you know what? That shot has been taken a million times before by a million more talented photographers. And you can find that shot in every souvenir book. Why not use the crowds as a motivation to grab a new angle or focus in on the architectural details? Those are the special shots that no one thinks to get.

Why create false memories?

Yep, I get annoyed when a charming shot is ruined by a clueless tourist hiking the photobomb trail. But I also believe that travel is about having authentic experience and creating great memories. Instead of worrying about people, why not work with the crowds? Get a fun group shot with a bunch of strangers who may just be your new best friends? Reach out and offer to take a shot for someone struggling with their selfie stick. Ask permission from adults before grabbing a snap of their cute kids playing in the courtyard. Those are the real moments and memories of travel that will last a lifetime. 
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We got up early in Athens to get this shot at the Acropolis.
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There's no crowds in our pics of Westminster Abbey - just a nearly empty courtyard.
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We hung around Paris at dusk to get this shot as the Louvre closed.
Really want tourist free shots? There's no need to edit. 

What’s our radical secret for capturing the Acropolis and the Louvre in tourist-free splendor? Showing up early and lingering until it’s late. That’s it! There are plenty of reasons to avoid seeing peak attractions during peak hours. Avoiding the heat, the lines, the crowds, and the pickpockets – that's reason enough for me to get out of bed a little early. And you won't be bothering anyone with your tripod or worrying about holding up a line as you change lenses.  And these early and late experiences also enrich our photos and our travel experiences. 

I was once the only person in Paris’ Musee D’Orsay. For about 15 unforgettable minutes, mine were the only footsteps that echoed down those legendary halls. I’ve also been part of a guided tour of the Louvre – one of the most popular attractions in the world – where I’ve seen no one else for several rooms in a row. And at Athens’ Acropolis, being early bird arrivals meant we could approach the structure and say hello to the stone masons doing the reconstructive work. 

What happens if your schedule is tight and it's impossible to arrive early or stay late? Walk around the corner. While everyone else is clamoring for space, say, at the front of Westminster Abbey, the perfect shot is waiting for you just around the corner at their courtyard. 
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Embrace imperfect photos - and travel!

Travel isn't perfect, and your photos won't be perfect either. And that's a great thing! The fun, excitement, exhilaration,  growth, learning,  and lessons of travel aren't the result of flawless experiences. But if you focus more on experiencing the moment instead of manufacturing the memory, you might just discover your ideal trip after all. 

We'd love to hear from you! Tell us about a time when you gladly left your camera behind. 

If you enjoyed this article, you'll also like:

Our Most Moving Roadtrip
Maple Leaf Memories in Ville-sur-Haine
Exploring the Rural Belgium Countryside 

Katrinka link
15/10/2015 04:26:32 pm

Yup, I agree with you-- people don't diminish a shot, they add energy! And if they are part of the experience of a place, why remove them? So yes, to all this.

Vanessa
17/10/2015 11:05:39 am

And most people who are taking photos LOVE having their photos taken. Especially if you tell them that they're the most fun group you've seen all day. They're definitely going to ham it up for you.

Jo link
17/10/2015 11:27:03 am

I love this post. Photos without people in them are sort of like middle-aged people without wrinkles - they look "perfect" but they just don't look "right". It's the imperfections that make them interesting.

Personally I'm not interested in a manufactured memory - I want to remember how crowded the Spice Bazaar was, and that little cat at the acropolis that I fondly remember patting. Otherwise you may as well just buy the book

Vanessa
17/10/2015 11:59:49 am

That's the perfect comparison.Both faces and experiences should have a bit of character to them!

Nathalie link
17/10/2015 12:48:55 pm

Gone are the days when people camp out to get the perfect shot :( They'd rather spend hours in post editing, sad really.

Vanessa
17/10/2015 11:05:57 pm

We've even been doing some photo-free experiences so we can enjoy what we're doing without worrying about getting any shots at all. Started with canoeing to protect the camera but now we try to do it a few times with every trip.

Fernando - The Visual Traveler link
17/10/2015 04:16:50 pm


You make some good points, it's a thought- provoking post.

I do agree that getting there early and leaving late are without a doubt the best ways to get the best photos, even when there's people.
It's also true that very often people add to rather than detract from the value of the photos. I normally tend to include people because I'm interested in them and it's one of the main reasons why I like to travel and travel photography.

However, some times people can ruin certain photos for many reasons, like dressing garishly, or in a way that looks totally out of place, or simply obstructing the view of some essential feature of the place you're photographing in a way you didn't notice when you pressed the shutter.

Finally, sometimes you just don't have the time to make the photo you want and avoid all those pitfalls. Or back home you realise you just have the one shot that might be a keeper were it not for the humongous group tourists crowding the place for the whole duration of your visit.

In those cases, I wouldn't say no to any technological advances that might save the day.

But yes, I agree the world probably doesn't need another 'perfect' shot of the Eiffel Tower or the Taj Mahal; which is not to say I will have fun trying to make one of those 'perfect' shots every now and then. It's also a matter of personal satisfaction, I suppose.

Vanessa
17/10/2015 11:07:44 pm

You make some great points, but I would argue that the person who is dressing unusually and standing out might make an excellent photographic subject. And once you've made friends with all these curious looking folks, they will be happy to oblige if you ask them all to step aside for a moment.

Nikita link
17/10/2015 05:03:21 pm

I agree entirely! What's the point of a tourist-free photo if that wasn't your experience? And there is no point to adding yet another perfect picture of an iconic landmark to the seemingly endless repertoire. Unique is ALWAYS better! :)

Vanessa
17/10/2015 11:09:51 pm

We have looked back on some shots with regret that we didn't really capture anything but a blurry crowd but that of course is our fault, not the fault of the people or the location. I think seeing a crowded landmark can be looked at as an opportunity as much as a hindrance. Admittedly I've had many days where I'm feeling not so patient or generous but I'm always hoping to improve on that as well as my photography!

mar link
17/10/2015 11:57:45 pm

I had no idea this mode existed but I think the point is not to get the tourist-free shot but to experience a peace in the peacefulness of silence. For this, I get up for sunrise. The added bonus is that you will also most likely see places in stunning light so, if you can, I suggest getting up early instead of using photoshop, so much better!

Vanessa
18/10/2015 10:38:00 am

I agree! Getting up early isn't exactly my cup of tea but it is so worth it when you're traveling and you can experience those unforgettable moments.

Natasha link
18/10/2015 04:54:44 am

I agree completely! I've never edited people out of photos and don't ever want to. I've always felt that people help in maintaining the authenticity of a place as it is rather than how it looks on postcards.

Vanessa
18/10/2015 10:54:18 am

I think it helps to realize that not every photo is going to be a great photo. Even legendary photographers have tons of shots they don't like - average Joes like us will have tons! I don't want to worry about those non-postcard looking shots, I just want to focus on enjoying the trip and practicing my photography.

Paula McInerney link
18/10/2015 06:08:00 am

I love natural photos, but have become more aware of people in photos and using them on our site. Without their express permission, we could be asking for problems. To get around this, we aim for back of head shots, as I see you have too. As an early riser, it is a great time of day to get some clear, though far from perfect shots, of different streetscapes and iconic things.

Vanessa
18/10/2015 10:59:49 am

Good point - permission is always important, not just for kids. As a blogger, it's a good way for me to invite more people to read my site!

Dariece link
18/10/2015 09:19:36 am

I've never heard of this program to erase people from photos?! Crazy. I definitely get annoyed when people are in my shots, but as you said, just get up early to avoid crowds, or find somewhere off the beaten path! Cheers.

Vanessa
18/10/2015 11:00:52 am

And knowing me, I'd only manage to erase half the person, leaving floating heads all over my photos!!!

Amelie link
18/10/2015 10:53:17 am

Ha, this is a great article, I wish people understood that more! I love to take shots of the back of people's head taking the same shot as me in front of me, hehehhe.

Vanessa
18/10/2015 11:03:03 am

We do that too! And we snap photos of the people who are taking the official photos as you enter tourist attractions.

Marissa Tejada link
18/10/2015 01:57:29 pm

Good thoughts. Yes, especially with social media we get too caught up in the perfect pic. Natural can be the best.

Vanessa
19/10/2015 02:56:58 pm

I agree!

anto - we12travel link
18/10/2015 03:25:18 pm

I had never heard of this before but by the sound of it, I'm not a fan. Sometimes I litterally wait for an hour or longer to get the picture I want without tourists, it doesn;t feel right to me to photoshop that away. We should live a life more real than others want us to believe so that's why Im also a big supporter of socality barbie nowadays :-)

Vanessa
19/10/2015 02:58:38 pm

Waiting to get that great shot can be a great opportunity to make some unique travel memories, like when we chatted with the stone masons at the Acropolis.

Meg Jerrard link
18/10/2015 09:47:11 pm

Love this post - well put Vanessa! I heard about the Monument Mode too or whatever that's called, and honestly I'm still pretty excited about the concept that you can remove tourists etc if you want to, though I agree that this gives an often inflated view of the experience. Some of the best travel photos I've seen have captured the real scene of a tourist attraction, with crowds and all, captured the atmosphere of what it's like to be there, and captured the authentic experience.

I think editing definitely takes away from that.

Vanessa
19/10/2015 03:00:17 pm

I think 'perfect' shots can also lead to great disappoint for future visitors. Maybe part of the reason why so many first time visitors hate Paris is that they're only seeing perfectly edited and staged shots that reinforce the image of 'movie' Paris. Paris is my favourite city in the world but I'm still the first to admit that movie Paris does not exist!


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