Gosh, this would be such an epic photo of me if only everybody else would get out of the way.
Let's be honest: we've all had that thought. There's no shame! It can be super frustrating to plan the perfect trip only to find out other people are doing the same thing... and are now immortalized in the background of your photo in front of the Eiffel Tower.
Annoying, but it's hard to blame them. Obviously, you're all traveling to see something worthwhile! That said, photos are my favorite souvenirs from my travels, and I try to make them the best they can be. This means getting rid of unwanted (no offense, general public) people.
I originally wrote this post before Adobe Photoshop's Generative AI was released. For anyone else familiar with the tool, you can understand why it's completely changed my workflow. Once tough edits are as simple as a selection and a click of a button. However, this paid software isn't an option for everyone and there are definitely cases where AI really doesn't do it. As such, knowing how to remove people "manually" is still a very important skill for photographers.
Let's take a look at some of my best tips for travel photography, without the other travelers making an appearance.
The best advice I have is likely advice you've already heard. I'll talk about these tips briefly before getting into more creative solutions.
Wake up early
If you can, arrive at famous attractions when they open and head straight to your photo destination.
I touch on this in my post, 32 Travel Photography Tips for Improving Your Photos. Being an early riser at an ultra-famous location will always work in your favor. Usually, by 10am the general public is out in throngs. Anytime before 8am (assuming it's light out by then) is your best bet for few or even no other tourists in your images.
If you're going somewhere like a museum where there may be a line for the opening, try to make a plan for where you want to be for your photo and go there first.
In the case above at the palace of Versailles, I made sure to head to the Hall of Mirrors right when the palace opened, even though it's at the end of the traditional visit route. I easily got a clean shot without anyone in it. An hour later the hall was packed and you could barely see the walls over peoples' heads!
Visit during the off-season
Burano, one of the many islands in the Venetian Lagoon, on an afternoon in the first week of March.
Travel during the off-season is probably one of the most common tips for travel photography, and travel in general. What some people don't recognize, however, is that having the flexibility in your schedule to vacation outside of traditional summer vacation times is a huge privilege.
Things tend to be cheaper, you'll wait in shorter lines, and naturally, there will be fewer people. So while it's not possible for everyone, if you can, traveling in the off-season is an easy way to guarantee less of a crowd in your pictures.
Find new angles for popular spots
Just half a block up from the people soup of Times Square in NYC.
The photo above is of me half a block up from the chaos of Times Square in New York City. It was a weekday afternoon in October. Fortunately, the area wasn't as mobbed as I was expecting, but it was still tough to get a good shot without distracting people in the background.
The solution? I walked up half a block and was able to find a completely open space that gave me some distance from the other tourists while still getting the desired shot.
Finding a new angle for a popular spot is often a great solution. For big monuments, try a spot from further away or around the back. It's the same epic shot but in a slightly different way. It may actually be a far better photo than the one everyone else is taking. Be creative! Take in your surroundings, and see if you can find a better vantage point.
Ask people to move (nicely)
Early morning in Montmartre, Paris.
Flat-out asking someone to move is an underrated technique. Of course, a few things need to align in order for this to happen:
- The person/people in question need to be close enough that you can go up and speak to them. This tip wouldn't work if you were trying to take a wide-angle shot in the middle of a crowd, for example.
- You need to speak the same language or find another way to communicate.
- They have to say yes.
This isn't usually all that complicated. I approach people with a smile (and make sure my big camera is visible). I'll say something to the extent of, "Hi, I'm so sorry to bother you, but I'd love to take a quick photo where you are. Could I ask you to scooch over to your (right/left) a few steps?"
Don't speak the language? A smile and a sheepish gesture work just as well. Most people respond positively to a polite request and will happily make room for you.
Wait people out
Right when the waves started getting good, a couple moved in to shoot some wedding photos. I sat back, waited 10 minutes, and they were gone.
I'm not above giving someone the evil eye if they're in my shot, but I wouldn't recommend this as an ideal practice. If you can't ask people to move out of your frame (or you asked and they said no) there's always a chance you can wait them out.
I try not to stare people down while I'm waiting, but I do try to make it clear I'm waiting for them (in a not rude way?). Let people take their photos, take in the view, and then odds are they'll move on.
I'm a big proponent of what I call "photography time". This is built in time to take photos when you're traveling to allow for opportunities to get the perfect shot - sometimes by simply waiting for a break in the tide.
In that respect, when you're hanging back waiting for people to move out of your photo, try to stay prepped for the image. Sometimes you'll only get a very brief gap between people in a busy area. That said, if you're ready for it when the opportunity presents itself, the destination can appear as if it was yours alone.
Hide people with your body
I'm hiding the only person close enough to me to be really distracting with my body!
You may already do this instinctively and not even realize it. If there are only one or two people cluttering your otherwise perfect shot, you may angle your camera to use an object in the frame to cover them.
If it's a photo with you in it, you can use your body to hide a person behind you. Otherwise, foreground objects like a fountain, a light fixture, a chair, or whatever else you have at your disposal could all work.
For landscape photos, it's important to have a clear foreground, middle ground, and background in your shot. As a result, this technique may make you more aware of your surroundings and ultimately lead to a cleaner and better thought-out composition - sans tourists.
Take long exposures
Tripods can be a lot to lug around, but they're usually worth it for images like this!
Unless you can find a stable place to rest your camera (which is rare but incredible when you find one!), you'll need a tripod for this technique.
In manual mode on your camera, bring down your ISO and close down your aperture as much as you can. Then increase your shutter speed as much as possible without blowing out the exposure, ideally at least a few seconds. Assuming the other tourists in the image are moving, a long exposure will turn them into faint wisps, or erase them altogether.
If your exposure is still too bright and you're not getting enough blur to erase the people, consider investing in an ND filter. Some neutral density filters will go as far as lowering your exposure by 9 stops, which could allow for impressively long exposures in mid-day.
Even if you don't own a camera, you can mimic the effect of a long-exposure photograph on an iPhone. To do this, take a photo making sure Live Mode is on. Once you take the photo, head into your Camera Roll and tap on the image. In the top left corner, tap Live to access the drop-down and select Long Exposure. Viola!
Photoshop
Notice how in the "after" image the lady on the bridge magically disappears. That's thanks to Photoshop. The editing software is an incredibly powerful tool for removing unwanted items in your photos.
I've been working in Photoshop since I was 16, so I'm somewhat of a self-pronounced Photoshop God at this point. Just sayin'.
The image above was a complicated edit because it has a complicated background. It's not perfect, but no one would ever notice that it's edited. So while this image may be complicated, even if you're just getting started in the software you'd be surprised at how much you will be able to do with just a few tools.
I tend to use a combination of the Content-Aware Fill tool and the healing brushes. That will get the job done 99% of the time. As I'm sure you've gathered by now, the skills and tools required for removing an object in Photoshop vary greatly depending on the image.
Fortunately, Photoshop's new Generate AI has already surpassed my skill level! Highly complex object removals or matching tough textures are some of Generative AI's best features in my opinion. I've played around with what it can do, and so far I'm very impressed. Simply select the part of your image you want to remove/change, type your prompt, click Generate, and watch the magic.
If you're not already familiar with Photoshop, there are several free apps that offer spot removal or object removal tools, which can work very well (again, depending on the image). My favorite is Adobe Photoshop Fix. You don't need a paid Adobe account to use the app.
If all else fails, embrace the people
This exposure isn't long enough to erase the people, but it does add a sense of energy to the place.
Despite all your best efforts, there will be times when trying to get rid of all the people in your photos is a fight you won't win. If this is the case, try to stay open-minded and see if you can find a way to make the people a feature, not a flaw.
Long exposures can be a fun way to create life and energy in a photo, as can wide-angle shots on a bustling city corner. Sometimes showing the people can actually enhance the scene and tell more of a story than the image would have otherwise. Make lemonade!
Truth is, you're not always going to be perfectly set up for your photos. I often wish I had a tripod when one wasn't allowed inside a museum, or I simply didn't want to lug it around. On occasion, I'm guilty of getting up late and having more tourists in my photos as a result. We're all human.
The point here is to give you some new tips for travel photography so you can make the most out of whatever photo conditions you're presented with. Don't underestimate the power of a gentle and polite ask to have someone take two steps to their right or the power of patience. Happy shooting, and let me know if you have more tips in the comments!
Do you want to improve your travel photography?
Invest in a DSLR or mirrorless camera
It's true that the best camera is the one in your hand. But if you're looking to up your photography game (and have a better camera in your hand!) it's worth investing in a DSLR or mirrorless camera. I usually prefer mirrorless cameras for travel. Why? They tend to be more compact, lighter, and easier to carry.
Budget: If you're just getting into photography, and want a step up in image quality from your phone, check out the:
- Nikon D3500. This is a great all-around beginner camera. F-stop goes up to an impressive 1.4, making it good for low-light and playing with depth of field. Nikon has tons of lens options to pair this camera with (I'd suggest a zoom lens for travel).
- Mirrorless Fujifilm X-T200. This camera is also small and lightweight. It has a touchscreen and several high-end features like eye tracking.
- Mirrorless Sony A6000. They offer a lot of high-range features at an entry-level price.
Mid-range:
- Mirrorless Nikon Z50. It's small and lightweight with impressive autofocus and 4k video.
- Mirrorless Sony a6400. Compact camera with object-tracking, beautiful colors, and 4k video.
Pro-level:
- Mirrorless Sony A7iii. It's what I shoot with, paired with the 24-105mm f4 lens. This camera is my baby. I'm continuously amazed by the image quality and all its cool features like eye tracking, wifi, and high ISO capabilities. If you're looking for a full-frame camera that's also super light and compact, this is it.
Travel Tripod
There are so many instances when I wished I had a tripod with me when traveling, but they can be beasts and impossible to carry around. For something that folds up into next to nothing, is lightweight, and won't break the bank, check out the:
- ZOMEI Z669C Carbon Fiber Portable Tripod. It has a max height of almost 60 inches and collapses to 14.6 inches. It's only 3.22 pounds but has a sturdy build.
