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This Photographer Points His Camera The “Wrong” Way At The World’s Most Visited Locations
286Kviews
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)
This post may include affiliate links.
Christ The Redeemer, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, France
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.
Parthenon, Athens, Greece
St. Mark's Square, Venice, Italy
He is not the only one pointing the camera in the wrong direction on that one!
Pyramid Of Khufu, Giza, Egypt
Wow, so much garbage! I hate how some of these countries put ZERO effort into even picking up garbage!
so much garbage! i hate when turists make no effort to keep visited places clean!
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When I visited there as a kid, there was nothing but the pyramids for miles and miles around - urban sprawl... Sad...
I am surprised to see how close the houses are to the pyramid. I just never pictured the 4,500 year old pyramid being in the middle of a city.
Is he really untop of it?! As far as I know that is absolutely illegal, got some crazy ass people patrolling there. But cool if he's up there and made it without problems. I'd have a go too ????
It is a golf course, all you need are water sprinklers with lots of water.
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Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.c., Usa
World Trade Centre, New York, Usa
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, Usa
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
Great Wall Of China, Mutianyu, China
Buckingham Palace, London, Uk
Is the guy on the left a ballet dancer considering the position hos feet are in ????????
Angel Of Independence, Mexico City, Mexico
Arbeit Macht Frei Gates, Auschwitz, Oswiecim, Poland
That's ... very disturbing. But, well, what isn't disturbing in Auschwitz?
La Moneda Palace, Santiago, Chile
Why the hell pacos always appear in chilean pictures??? This country is more than that!!!
Cell 5, Block B, Robben Island, South Africa
the idea is original, but apart from the first ones there is nothing very aesthetic in these...
i suppose that is the point
I didn't said not beautiful (yes the other side of famous places is not specially beautiful), I said not aesthetic (as in bad photographic composition)
I supose, it's hard for a great composition from most of these places, but the Rio de Janerio shot is amazing and others are interesting too:)
Rio and Taj Mahal are great indeed, Joconde is not bad
I think the idea would be brighter, if thouse pictures would have been panoramic
Well this is true media or journalism. Reality not the cropped advertised, hyped, sold rubbish. You get fresh minds filled with a delusion then medical comes along and says "You're Deluded"
Personally that's exactly what I like about them. They show just how normal and boring the surroundings of most of these places are and highlight how much work goes into those perfect "tourist" landmark shots. The contrast brings these places a sense of reality.
Now we can also see "what's on the other side"...
Love it. :)
Love it too!
Nuecas perspectivas
Some of these would benefit from having a picture the right way or even a pinpoint on a map... been to several and looking at these I have no clue where he stood for the picture. Some seem to be close to the actual site but the one at the Eiffel tower seems to be nowhere near the actual tower.
Look at the window reflection on that building, you can see the Eiffel Tower in it :)
Which means they are probably looking at the back of one of the avenues, which as the crow flies isn't that far but walking it's not really standing at the site anymore. It's not a spot most people would go to even to look the other way, most pictures would be taken at the side of the palais or the academy.. which give a clear view instead of trees Knipsel-57...20-png.jpg
Brilliant, anyone can Google tons of pics of the actual monument. Very cool.
I didn't understand
pretty much most of the surrounding area around touristy landmarks suck or it's pretty ordinary. Like Times Square.
I love this
Marcos
I like to take pictures of the back of my head
I like to post pictures of the back of my head
One of the most original and brilliant ideas the world has seen. You can see how the perspective from these places can be beautiful or sad.
Simplemente genial
I love this idea! Great job! :D
It's Palestine not Israel
This is not art, this is lack of originality.
the idea is original, but apart from the first ones there is nothing very aesthetic in these...
i suppose that is the point
I didn't said not beautiful (yes the other side of famous places is not specially beautiful), I said not aesthetic (as in bad photographic composition)
I supose, it's hard for a great composition from most of these places, but the Rio de Janerio shot is amazing and others are interesting too:)
Rio and Taj Mahal are great indeed, Joconde is not bad
I think the idea would be brighter, if thouse pictures would have been panoramic
Well this is true media or journalism. Reality not the cropped advertised, hyped, sold rubbish. You get fresh minds filled with a delusion then medical comes along and says "You're Deluded"
Personally that's exactly what I like about them. They show just how normal and boring the surroundings of most of these places are and highlight how much work goes into those perfect "tourist" landmark shots. The contrast brings these places a sense of reality.
Now we can also see "what's on the other side"...
Love it. :)
Love it too!
Nuecas perspectivas
Some of these would benefit from having a picture the right way or even a pinpoint on a map... been to several and looking at these I have no clue where he stood for the picture. Some seem to be close to the actual site but the one at the Eiffel tower seems to be nowhere near the actual tower.
Look at the window reflection on that building, you can see the Eiffel Tower in it :)
Which means they are probably looking at the back of one of the avenues, which as the crow flies isn't that far but walking it's not really standing at the site anymore. It's not a spot most people would go to even to look the other way, most pictures would be taken at the side of the palais or the academy.. which give a clear view instead of trees Knipsel-57...20-png.jpg
Brilliant, anyone can Google tons of pics of the actual monument. Very cool.
I didn't understand
pretty much most of the surrounding area around touristy landmarks suck or it's pretty ordinary. Like Times Square.
I love this
Marcos
I like to take pictures of the back of my head
I like to post pictures of the back of my head
One of the most original and brilliant ideas the world has seen. You can see how the perspective from these places can be beautiful or sad.
Simplemente genial
I love this idea! Great job! :D
It's Palestine not Israel
This is not art, this is lack of originality.