When people travel they want to be sure they see the top sites of that location. I do the same and am probably one of an uncountable number that google phrases such as, “Top 10 Must See Attractions in XXX.” Now, I will not say such articles or attractions are not important. They most certainly are and they are what bring people from all over the world. They give you an idea of how to plan your time and options based on your interests. But, what gets overlooked when someone is just checking the boxes, are the supporting details of sites that make them so spectacular and allow you to even have an emotional reaction to a site.

And pretty much everyone wants to have snapshots of those sites that will live past the physical experience. This trip has had a large focus on using my new camera as much as possible and learning to frame and focus on scenes that I want to take with me. In school, I had a of couple lessons centered on how to photograph buildings and built landscapes. Easier in theory than in practice. I’ve come to find that I do a much better job so far with focusing on smaller areas than the overall site. Which works for me because in the details is where I find the connections to a site.

I have found that a good way to capture an image without the taint of people (or they are blurred) in your frame is to aim up or down and zoom into the architectural details. Here you can get lost in the beauty and even forget for a moment that you are surrounded by multiple group tours or the bustling individuals attempting another panorama. Take a moment. Focus. And shoot.

Here are a few images I have captured doing just that:

Don’t just get the picture to get the picture. Have meaning behind it. Capture the details that make the whole so beautiful. I know that these images will invoke memories much more than the usual shots of these sites.

On another, but similar note, I did not realize before I left how caught up I’d become in the photography and social media posting. Still learning to manage my time and have as many experiences as possible.  But have no fear, I have been taking ample notes and will have a ton to write about in the near future!