If you look at photos of the Eiffel Tower in Paris, you’ll see a lot of images that look very similar to one another. The Eiffel Tower is often photographed from a straightforward perspective—and the same goes for many other famous buildings.
Photographing a city’s landmarks can feel like a challenge because these popular locations are so often photographed from a similar viewpoint. When I travel, I like to try to take some extra creative steps in order to capture compelling photos that show popular places in a way that people haven’t seen before.
By taking some time to think about your creative approach to photographing landmarks, you can create unique photos that stand out from the crowd. Here are a few tips to help you get there.
1. Explore unique angles
When you arrive at a popular landmark, take a few photos from a traditional viewpoint. Then, move on to finding more creative angles that showcase the location in a new way. Walk around and explore! Get low on the ground and shoot from below to make the landmark look larger than life. Then, go to a higher elevation to photograph the scene from above. Have fun! You may be surprised by the photos you take when you try an unconventional approach. By altering your view, you can create a photo that is much more interesting than the images you’ve seen before.
2. Step back to include people in the scene
So often, we think of people as “getting in the way” of our perfect shot. Instead, think about how they could add to the story of your shot. Photos with people in the scene can often be more interesting to look at than photos without a human element. Look around the scene, and see what people you can add in the composition. Remember when sharing photos to Google Maps, avoid sharing photos of people that could be recognizable. Perhaps there is a street vendor or group of tourists photographing the landmark that you can include as an element in the composition to help draw someone looking at your image into the scene.
3. Frame your landmark
Another way to make your landmark photos more unique is to frame your subject. Is there an archway or flowering tree branch nearby that you can place between the landmark and your camera lens to create a border at the edge of your composition? This will help to draw your eye into the image and give the scene more depth.
4. Focus on the details
Take things a step further and get in close to the landmark. The great thing when photographing popular landmarks up close is that you show others a new perspective of a subject that they most likely haven’t seen before! A close-up shot of a sculpture or architectural detail can showcase the beauty of the landmark in a new way. It can also show the hard work it took to create the landmark which can often get lost when someone only sees the scene taken from a viewpoint further away.
- Shoot at sunrise or sunset
Try to use the best light to show off the landmark. Check the sunrise and sunset times before you go, and plan to visit just after sunrise and before dusk in order to get soft natural light. It’s important to avoid the harshness of the midday sun, when the light can create hard shadows. By visiting at the best time of day, you’ll not only create a better looking photograph of the landmark, but you’ll most likely avoid the crowds too!
How do you approach taking a photo at a landmark that has been photographed many times before? Have you tried the suggestions above? Share your photos with us in the comments below. I’d love to see them!
