I’m following Instagram since a couple of weeks now. A lot of people are posting travel pictures, and usually the pictures are all taken at the same spots. There are even people, in most cases young couples, who seem to travel from one of these spots to the next, taking pictures of locations thousands of people have taken before. This “influences” the mass of people who follow them to go to the same spots, trying to take the same pics from the same angle. This behaviour of the masses automatically leads to overcrowded places, where people are standing each other in the way to take the best picture.
One of my favorite examples are the “three sisters”, the three cisterciensian monasteries in Provence (France). As Senanque, a favorite place of mine since almost 40 years, is located next to lavender fields, everyone travels there to take to famous picture of the ancient buildings surrounded by violet bushes. Being there in summer is a nightmare, car next to car, trailers, camping vans, buses, masses of people in processions to the favorite photo spots. Very close to Senanque is Silvacane, another monastery, equally important, comparable in size and architecture, but without the lavender fields. There are only few people visiting the area, even in summer it’s not crowded.
The challenge is, to find places away from the usual touristic pathways, which are equally beautiful, and where you can be for yourself or with only a few likeminded. The best places are those where you need to take some effort to reach, a hike, some climbing or simply a longer walk. You will discover undisturbed places where you will be able to take the most beautiful pictures (if you like), but don’t make the mistake to publish them widely and provide details how to get there: within some time the places will become famous, people will start to go there and the mass will destroy the uniqueness of the location.
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