Look the other way: lesser known views of the world’s most famous places

At every famous place in the world there seems to be one unmissable photo spot: the picture that we know will end up being printed, framed, used as a greeting card or as our desktop. Along with the almost everyone else, I too have made sure to capture those iconic images. But looking through my photo albums in retrospect, those images are not always the ones that provoke the strongest memories. Here are five of the most famous tourist attractions in the world that I’ve been fortunate to visit, and a few pictures of these sites from a less familiar angle.

1. Grand Canyon

Cottonwood Creek - Grand Canyon

Cottonwood Creek in the Grand Canyon

Grand Canyon; the classic view

Grand Canyon; the classic view

The Grand Canyon is rightly listed as one of the world’s natural wonders. Few fail to gasp in amazement at their first view from the rim of the canyon. Yet if you are one of the few who choose to walk below the rim, you can witness the spectacular landscapes inside the canyon. There are excellent multi-day hikes that allow you to camp on the banks of the Colorado river, and also a number of good day hikes that allow you plenty of time to enjoy the  unique landscapes of the canyon interior.

2. Ayers Rock

Ayers Rock close up

Ayers Rock close up

Ayers Rock as it's best known

Ayers Rock as it's best known

If you arrive at Ayers Rock you’ll be faced with the common dilemma: to climb or not to climb? While the argument not to climb usually runs along the grounds of cultural respect to the native cultures there is another good reason to choose to walk around the base: it gave us a completely unexpected insight into the rock, and allows us to appreciate the variety of natural life that survives around the base of this famous rock. We visited the morning after heavy rains and the waterfalls were very impressive.

3. Petra

Petra - exploring the Nabatean tombs

Petra - exploring the Nabatean tombs

Petra - the obligatory Indiana Jones shot

Petra - the obligatory Indiana Jones shot

Entering Petra through the narrow passageway (the Siq) with a guide, the standard trick a guide plays is that he will ask you at one point to close your eyes and turn around. Then he will play the Indiana Jones theme music on his phone and ask you to open your eyes, to be greeted with the inspiring view of the Treasury.

And it is truly one of those ‘Wow!’ moments. But there are other equally impressive sides to a Petra visit. Clambering up the rocks to explore the Nabatean tombs and learning about their burial rites, exploring the Roman ruins on the same site, and the climb up to the Monastery were all memorable sights, and far less busy with people posing for ‘that’ picture. The huge area of Petra will keep the interested visitor busy for two to three days.

4. Taj Mahal

An outer shrine silhouetted by the rising sun

An outer shrine silhouetted by the rising sun

Taj Mahal - the classic shot

Taj Mahal - the classic shot

From the main entrance, and sitting on the ‘Princess Diana’ bench: if you’ve been to the Taj Mahal I challenge you to tell me you don’t have these two shots at least once. I know we have several of them. Yet this site is so rich with beautifully adorned architecture that you are spoilt for choice on good photo opportunities. If you arrive at sunrise as most people seem to, and get away from the main crowds at the two points mentioned above, I found it surprisingly easy to take pictures of large areas by the different structures that were empty of other tourists.

5. Machu Picchu

The reconstructed buildings of Machu Picchu

The reconstructed buildings of Machu Picchu

The 'must have' shot of the Machu Picchu ruins

The 'must have' shot of the Machu Picchu ruins

Was the moment when I captured this classic shot of Machu Picchu (left) one of my travel highlights? Undoubtedly. We have just walked for four days and this was our first sight of what we’d worked so hard to come to see. Standing at the Sun Gate and looking down on the ruins was something special.
But no less memorable was the opportunity the next morning to wander alone among the abandoned buildings and rocks of the site and imagine the lives of those who had been here 500 years before. Again, the interior of the site was very quiet and afforded us to enjoy the ruins pretty much to ourselves (although this was in 1996).

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21 Responses to “Look the other way: lesser known views of the world’s most famous places”

  1. This is such a creative post! Of course it’s great to capture the classics, but there’s also plenty of other interesting sites as these famous places.

    August 15, 2010 at 10:02 am Reply
  2. Great post. I love trying to find new ways to look at spots that are overexposed. Sometimes I take pictures of the tourists! lol. I like what you did.

    ~Vago

    August 15, 2010 at 4:42 pm Reply
  3. Sam #

    Great post Andy! It’s always great to see another viewpoint from some of the world’s most famous sights. Especially enjoyed Ayers Rock as you’d never expect that view.

    August 15, 2010 at 8:53 pm Reply
  4. Thank you Sam, Laura and Vago for your kind comments. And yes Vago, I agree that sometimes taking pictures of the people taking pictures can make a great shot!

    August 15, 2010 at 11:04 pm Reply
  5. Great locations & the photo of the Machu Picchu is amazing! The light looks like it’s a spotted beamer… wow!

    August 16, 2010 at 9:10 am Reply
  6. Great photos . its always finding that shot that’s different which is the reason we carry our cameras huh! :)

    August 16, 2010 at 9:31 am Reply
  7. Very creative post – the tombs at Petra are indeed impressive. If only some of them didn’t smell like toilets!

    August 16, 2010 at 9:37 am Reply
  8. Andy, I agree entirely, it is always worth looking for an image at a famous landmark that nobody else has captured.
    Vagabond, Yes, there are some really good photos published taken behind tourists posing at landmarks.

    August 16, 2010 at 9:39 am Reply
  9. Very cool! When I read the title I expecting to see photos of KFC and the pyramids and the touts at the Taj Mahal.

    August 16, 2010 at 10:54 am Reply
  10. Really nice idea – and great shots. Thanks!

    August 16, 2010 at 11:56 am Reply
  11. Agree – great to get shots from a different perspective

    August 16, 2010 at 1:31 pm Reply
  12. Great shots! Thanks for showing us another viewpoint to such amazing and familiar places!

    August 16, 2010 at 1:52 pm Reply
  13. Thank you for all the kind feedback. Claire, is there really a KFC at the Pyramids now? Please tell me you’re joking.

    August 16, 2010 at 2:00 pm Reply
  14. Excellent post! It certainly does give a different perspective of the popular attractions – adds a new dimension.

    August 17, 2010 at 12:34 am Reply
  15. Very interesting! The Ayers rock one is the most surprising one for me.

    August 17, 2010 at 12:39 pm Reply
  16. Andy, You shot of Machu Picchu from above is amazing. I would love to see this blown up. There are many people around the world who have similar shots, (including myself) but not in the way the sunlight is poking through the clouds and only illuminating a portion of the ruins like in your image. I too, remember the 4 day walk, and standing at the sun gate in the morning, and my initial first glimpse, but as your post reminds us, there are many other views to be had of these spectacular sights. I think that we all (myself included) need to be a little more creative when taking photo’s of very popluar sites around the world.

    August 18, 2010 at 2:12 am Reply
  17. Wow Jason, I never appreciate my own shot till I looked at it again through your comments. Now I’m rather pleased with it :-)
    Thanks again to Gayle, Dina and to Jason for your kind comments.

    August 19, 2010 at 2:46 pm Reply
  18. I wish i have been to all these spots.These look amazing. I can send you some beautiful pictures of famous places of other part of the world. Yes African safaris and the Nature.

    August 20, 2010 at 5:30 pm Reply
  19. Elle #

    Excellent post Andy. What beautiful pictures!

    March 18, 2011 at 2:18 am Reply
  20. Thank you Elle :-)

    March 18, 2011 at 10:06 am Reply
  21. I came across this site by coincidence and very glad I did. I only travelled several times before and the rest are done through books. So I would like to say ‘Thank you, Andy Jarosz’ for sharing those lovely sights and also comments to make me visualize the scene. By the way, about those travel change in different currencies, shall I set up a bottle just in case anybody wants to send me their change….? lol Thank you again..

    August 23, 2012 at 4:24 am Reply

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