Does a location being "touristy" diminish the value of photographing it?

[ReginaldSMith]

To present them as otherwise is to misrepresent what such places have become.

Hear! Hear!
Indeed, we are Nature, and what we do is Natural. As the beaver floods a meadow, we build tall buildings and put up billboards.

 

[Sirius Glass]

I can always find new compositions in a well traveled place.

 

[Black Dog]

I can always find new compositions in a well traveled place.

Yes, for sure. Sometimes you see pictures right away, sometimes it takes a while to really get into a place. Once you've got the first few pictures, IME that then suggests other possibilities.

 

[removed account4]

Why don't you answer John's question?

i guess elvis has left the building ...

 

[jtk]

Yes, for sure. Sometimes you see pictures right away, sometimes it takes a while to really get into a place. Once you've got the first few pictures, IME that then suggests other possibilities.

Sure. But is "well taveled place" comparable to "touristy"? Big highway or city comparable to "touristy" (the OT) "?

 

[Black Dog]

Well sometimes, though I'd say 'touristy' means a real honeypot location like Yosemite or Buckingham Palace.

 

[jtk]

value of photographing it

Value to whom? I'd rather be alert for something unusual than hang around the usual places.

 

[Sirius Glass]

value of photographing it

Value to whom? I'd rather be alert for something unusual than spend my time in the usual places.

The last time I checked that was your prerogative, others may feel differently.

 

[jtk]

The last time I checked that was your prerogative, others may feel differently.

D'oh.

 

[removed account4]

since when does making a photograph for oneself have to do with monitary value, what a shallow perspective of personal photography .
people photograph things for themselves and for no one else most of the time
people want to remember where they were, what they did, and if was at some touristy location
they make a photograph at some touristy well beaten cliché because they want to
have a photograph of the eiffel tower, the statue of liberty ( when david copperfield didn't make it vanish ) el captain
slot canyon ( with or without the much photographed nude or apparition ) some tour group visit, or whatever .. why a monitary value needs to be put on a memory is beyond me.
OP make the photograph don't care or listen to what anyone else things or does. if it is from someone elses' tripod holes who cares if it is from a different perspective
great .. just do what you want and don't listen to all the ( at times ) overpowering negativity about photographing tourist locations ...
its like asking if you should make photographs of your kids's "1st's " first steps, first haircut, first chocolate cake &c or their birthdays .. who cares if they've been done a million or a billion times
after all the people who claim all these photographs are hackneyed and not worth taking because xyz reasons .. probably have photo albums of these
same photographs THEY have taken themselves, just like the other cliché'd hackneyed well worn photographs of friends and family and kids' firsts ...

 

[Sirius Glass]

since when does making a photograph for oneself have to do with monitary value, what a shallow perspective of personal photography .
people photograph things for themselves and for no one else most of the time
people want to remember where they were, what they did, and if was at some touristy location
they make a photograph at some touristy well beaten cliché because they want to
have a photograph of the eiffel tower, the statue of liberty ( when david copperfield didn't make it vanish ) el captain
slot canyon ( with or without the much photographed nude or apparition ) some tour group visit, or whatever .. why a monitary value needs to be put on a memory is beyond me.
OP make the photograph don't care or listen to what anyone else things or does. if it is from someone elses' tripod holes who cares if it is from a different perspective
great .. just do what you want and don't listen to all the ( at times ) overpowering negativity about photographing tourist locations ...
its like asking if you should make photographs of your kids's "1st's " first steps, first haircut, first chocolate cake &c or their birthdays .. who cares if they've been done a million or a billion times
after all the people who claim all these photographs are hackneyed and not worth taking because xyz reasons .. probably have photo albums of these
same photographs THEY have taken themselves, just like the other cliché'd hackneyed well worn photographs of friends and family and kids' firsts ...

+1 <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>>

 

[Black Dog]

+1 <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>> <<clap>>

And add some more clapping from me (possibly with one hand)!

 

[jtk]

since when does making a photograph for oneself have to do with monitary value, what a shallow perspective of personal photography .
people photograph things for themselves and for no one else most of the time
people want to remember where they were, what they did, and if was at some touristy location
they make a photograph at some touristy well beaten cliché because they want to
have a photograph of the eiffel tower, the statue of liberty ( when david copperfield didn't make it vanish ) el captain
slot canyon ( with or without the much photographed nude or apparition ) some tour group visit, or whatever .. why a monitary value needs to be put on a memory is beyond me.
OP make the photograph don't care or listen to what anyone else things or does. if it is from someone elses' tripod holes who cares if it is from a different perspective
great .. just do what you want and don't listen to all the ( at times ) overpowering negativity about photographing tourist locations ...
its like asking if you should make photographs of your kids's "1st's " first steps, first haircut, first chocolate cake &c or their birthdays .. who cares if they've been done a million or a billion times
after all the people who claim all these photographs are hackneyed and not worth taking because xyz reasons .. probably have photo albums of these
same photographs THEY have taken themselves, just like the other cliché'd hackneyed well worn photographs of friends and family and kids' firsts ...

First, the OT didn't say anything about photographing "for oneself."

Second, all of my professional work has been as much for myself as for the client. That's a personal values thing of course. YMMV

Thirdly, the OT addresses VALUE, which does not suggest the valueless cult idea that everything is equal.

Finally, one fix for tendency to prolix prose is to take a long walk, actually speaking to other humans.

 

[jtk]

First, the OT didn't say anything about photographing "for oneself."

Second, all of my professional work has been as much for myself as for the client. That's a personal values thing of course. YMMV

Thirdly, the OT addresses VALUE, which does not suggest the sad, "who cares" valueless cult idea that everything is equal.

Finally, one RX for tendency to prolix prose is to take a long walk, actually speaking to other humans.

 

[removed account4]

First .......

unlike you, most people who are here are not professional photographers
its a hobbyist site
and its personal photographic value
the OP didn't talk about commercial work, you $-zed it not him, he spoke about a touristy
area having photographic value, being "interesting" maybe "poetic".
LOL i have no reason to write less and don't need your "help"
you don't want to read the posts? please put me on ignore
and can you please keep your veiled insults
directed to me and others on photrio to yourself.

 

[jtk]

unlike you, most people who are here are not professional photographers
its a hobbyist site
and its personal photographic value
the OP didn't talk about commercial work, you $-zed it not him, he spoke about a touristy
area having photographic value, being "interesting" maybe "poetic".
LOL i have no reason to write less and don't need your "help"
you don't want to read the posts? please put me on ignore
and can you please keep your veiled insults
directed to me and others on photrio to yourself.

 

[jtk]

value of photographing it

Value to whom? I'd rather be alert for something unusual than hang around the usual places.

This post caused panic. I spoke for myself, of course. Sometimes not allowed.

"value" isn't an abstraction. Speaking for oneself is sometimes discouraged.

 

[Bob Carnie]

In my first post on this thread , I asked if anyone has an image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I am convinced that with my new found digital skills and alternative printing methods I could make a unique and compelling photo of that building, I just saw an Eiffel Tower image on FB that completely rocks, so I think yes going to touristy places is still valid with an open eye.
I think its what one brings to the location that is important and being able to pull out what you want.

 

[TheFlyingCamera]

It's entirely possible to photograph touristy things in an original, non-touristy way - you just need to be open to seeing it from a non-cliche'd perspective.

The Eiffel Tower:

Dead Link Removed

Yes, you know right away that it is the Eiffel Tower. But not like you've ever seen it before. And no, it isn't some hackneyed Photoshop job - this is a photo of its shadow reflected in the bulletproof safety glass around the line for the elevator. Sometimes you have to look up- other times, look down, or to the side.

 

[jtk]

It's entirely possible to photograph touristy things in an original, non-touristy way - you just need to be open to seeing it from a non-cliche'd perspective.

The Eiffel Tower:

Dead Link Removed

Yes, you know right away that it is the Eiffel Tower. But not like you've ever seen it before. And no, it isn't some hackneyed Photoshop job - this is a photo of its shadow reflected in the bulletproof safety glass around the line for the elevator. Sometimes you have to look up- other times, look down, or to the side.

Yes...points well made.

For me, public markets and food displays in shop windows in and around Paris were more interesting (therefore more "valuable" to me) than the majestic monuments.

 

[jtk]

In my first post on this thread , I asked if anyone has an image of the Leaning Tower of Pisa, I am convinced that with my new found digital skills and alternative printing methods I could make a unique and compelling photo of that building, I just saw an Eiffel Tower image on FB that completely rocks, so I think yes going to touristy places is still valid with an open eye.
I think its what one brings to the location that is important and being able to pull out what you want.

Agreed fully. As a parallel thought, I spent a recent weekend in remote Jicarilla Apache reservation, competing in archery. No photos (out of courtesy). I wouldn't trade time like that for time anywhere else on earth. I couldn't have made "unique and compelling" photos from Pisa, mostly because I avoid "touristy" places.

 

[Berkeley Mike]

The ET was an ornament designed for an event, was static and just aesthetically this side of a High Voltage Tower, to be taken down after the event. The public stuff is evoked from the people and constantly evolving. It has life.

 

[removed account4]

It's entirely possible to photograph touristy things in an original, non-touristy way - you just need to be open to seeing it from a non-cliche'd perspective.

The Eiffel Tower:

Dead Link Removed

Yes, you know right away that it is the Eiffel Tower. But not like you've ever seen it before. And no, it isn't some hackneyed Photoshop job - this is a photo of its shadow reflected in the bulletproof safety glass around the line for the elevator. Sometimes you have to look up- other times, look down, or to the side.

scott as they say .. that is delicious !
thank you for posting it !

 

[jtk]

The ET was an ornament designed for an event, is static, to be taken down after the event. The public stuff is evoked from the people and constantly evolving.

Yes. Does that mean "the public stuff" is inherently "valuable" ? Granted, fine photos can be made in Disneyland...would you go there unpaid to photograph?

 

[mooseontheloose]

Yes. Does that mean "the public stuff" is inherently "valuable" ? Granted, fine photos can be made in Disneyland...would you go there unpaid to photograph?

Why not?