Anybody who's visited any of the world's major tourist sites recently will know how difficult it is to get a perfect photograph. It's almost impossible to take a good snap without also snapping hundreds of selfie sticks (not literally. Although there's an idea...), but this photographer has come up with a unique way to avoid the crowds - he simply takes his pictures from the wrong direction.

The series is called Volte-face, and the man behind the camera is British photographer Oliver Curtis. His inspiration came in 2012 when Curtis was visiting the Pyramids of Giza. “In the mid-distance I saw a newly constructed golf course, its fairways an intense green,” he said on Creative Boom. “I found this visual sandwich of contrasting color, texture and form intriguing...because of the oddness of my position; standing at one of the great wonders of the world facing the ‘wrong’ way.”

You can see Volte-face at the Royal Geographical Society in London from September 19 until October 14. Just make sure you're facing the right way.

More info: Oliver Curtis (h/t: creative boom, PetaPixel)

#1

Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil

Report

#2

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Taj Mahal, Agra, India

Report

#3

Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, France

Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, France

Report

Judy Wanderi
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I did this too, and was in awe of how much detail the photo opposite the Mona Lisa has, I was more captivated by it than the hordes that were gawking at Mona Lisa.

View More Replies...
View more comments
#4

Parthenon, Athens, Greece

Parthenon, Athens, Greece

Report

#5

St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy

St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy

Report

Julie Perrissel
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

He is not the only one pointing the camera in the wrong direction on that one!

View more comments
#6

Pyramid Of Khufu, Giza, Egypt

Pyramid Of Khufu, Giza, Egypt

Report

#7

Statue Of Liberty, New York, Usa

Statue Of Liberty, New York, Usa

Report

Kaatz
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I thought for a second that lamps is eyes. :D

View more comments
#8

Mao Mausoleum, Beijing, China

Mao Mausoleum, Beijing, China

Report

Yvonne Bernal
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Hey look.... it's a mass-selfie convention!

View more comments
#9

White House, Washington D.c., Usa

White House, Washington D.c., Usa

Report

.gas.
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love this park! I spend a lot of time there when we visit, just staring at the White House and watching the people go by.

View More Replies...
View more comments
#10

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Eiffel Tower, Paris, France

Report

#11

Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel

Report

#12

Reichstag, Berlin, Germany

Reichstag, Berlin, Germany

Report

#13

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Uk

Stonehenge, Wiltshire, Uk

Report

#14

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.c., Usa

Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.c., Usa

Report

#15

Lenin's Tomb, Moscow, Russia

Lenin's Tomb, Moscow, Russia

Report

#16

World Trade Centre, New York, Usa

World Trade Centre, New York, Usa

Report

Antonia
Community Member
7 years ago

This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

Not anymore...

#17

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Colosseum, Rome, Italy

Report

#18

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, Usa

Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, Usa

Report

#19

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Vatican

St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, Vatican

Report

#20

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Report

See Also on Bored Panda
#21

Great Wall Of China, Mutianyu, China

Great Wall Of China, Mutianyu, China

Report

Patti Hand
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

ahhh commercialism at its finest :)

#22

Buckingham Palace, London, Uk

Buckingham Palace, London, Uk

Report

Katta Larsson
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Is the guy on the left a ballet dancer considering the position hos feet are in ????????

View More Replies...
View more comments
#23

Pyramid Of The Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Pyramid Of The Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico

Report

#24

Angel Of Independence, Mexico City, Mexico

Angel Of Independence, Mexico City, Mexico

Report

dora sim
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

All the social commentary in this one...

View more comments
#25

Arbeit Macht Frei Gates, Auschwitz, Oswiecim, Poland

Arbeit Macht Frei Gates, Auschwitz, Oswiecim, Poland

Report

Jeanne Deaux
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That's ... very disturbing. But, well, what isn't disturbing in Auschwitz?

View more comments
#26

Ministry Of Internal Affairs, Place Of The Revolution, Bucharest, Romania

Ministry Of Internal Affairs, Place Of The Revolution, Bucharest, Romania

Report

#27

North Korean Jsa, Dmz, Panmunjeon, Korea

North Korean Jsa, Dmz, Panmunjeon, Korea

Report

Kaatz
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Take a photo of a solider in North-Korea is risky.

View More Replies...
View more comments
#28

La Moneda Palace, Santiago, Chile

La Moneda Palace, Santiago, Chile

Report

Tomás Figueroa
Community Member
7 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Why the hell pacos always appear in chilean pictures??? This country is more than that!!!

#29

Cell 5, Block B, Robben Island, South Africa

Cell 5, Block B, Robben Island, South Africa

Report

#30

Monument For Democracy, Bangkok, Thailand

Monument For Democracy, Bangkok, Thailand

Report

See Also on Bored Panda