Peterfiore Loc: Where DR goes south

I totally understand. I always think in terms of the quality of the light. After all, that is the true subject of my picture. However, when I start to think about the light and how I can use that precious commodity, it's a very different game. Most of the pictures you see are from the well-abused points of view are captured in the middle of the day—flat light.

I spend a day or two scouting locations with a compass to ascertain where the sun will rise and set. Also, knowing what time they occur. In today's world, much of this can found online. But, seeing a location in person is so much more valuable. Getting great images is hard work.

And this is the prep work for my paintings. But, of course, this has a whole set of other criteria. Now the fun begins...

billnikon Loc: Pennsylvania/Ohio/Florida/Maui/Oregon/Vermont

When ever I go to places that are Tourist's hot spots, I go when kids are in school. And I shoot at sunrise and sunset. Personally I challenge myself to get shots that I have not seen or at times that show textures (early morning and late afternoon sun) or I shoot during a full moon cycle and put the moon in interesting places. For moon shots I have stock shots of the moon taken in RAW and on a separate memory card, then when I am at a special place I pull out my moon card and take a couple of shots then I can combine any two images on that memory card with my Nikon camera. Below is a combination shot taken at a balloon lighting event close to home.
Good luck and keep on shooting until the end.
PS. An old Principal told me once, "Bill, you have to be on fire first to be burned out". Have you ever been on fire?

rmalarz Loc: Tempe, Arizona

Well, Monument Valley is closed due to the virus. The entire Navajo Nation is closed for that matter. https://navajonationparks.org/
--Bob

mizzee Loc: Boston,Ma

Go anyway! My husband and I found that Early May was a great time to go.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

I don't have a "must visit" list, but I know what you mean. I take a break from shooting occasionally, but I always go back to it. Sometimes, I'll bring the Fuji with me (or the Sony) and spend the day shooting whatever catches my eye - new scenes with a different camera.

olemikey Loc: 6 mile creek, Spacecoast Florida

In my lifetime I have never seen a "grand location" in a photograph that would even come close to doing them justice/do for me what being there and experiencing the actual site does for me. One could spend a lifetime photographing any/many of these place all over our country and the world, and still not capture the grandeur. I would imagine Ansel Adams would have told you the same......

I too occasionally suffer "photo burnout".... but if I put down my cameras for a few days or even a couple weeks, I'm right back at it with "gusto"!!
ymmv

BigDaddy Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Were they YOUR pictures?
There are no popular tourist sites where millions or billions of pictures have not been taken, and tons of them can be viewed at will on the internet. If all you want is to see pictures of the places, go on line, or buy a picture post card.

If you have taken a lot of those pictures, then I can understand the burn out. I've burned out a bit on flowers on my deck, birds at the feeders, Lucy my cat, home grown veggies, Landscapes at a local park. I've never been to the places you mentioned, and could care less how many pictures others have taken of those places. I guess if I were selling them then a battle between lots of competition in the popular spots vs lack of interest in less popular spots might ensue?

I've never been "burned out" on pictures someone else took?

n4jee Loc: New Bern, NC

The above is what came to my mind when I saw your post. pshane is right on the mark. No matter how many photos you see, none can do justice to the actual experience. The photos you take will allow you to relive the experience in your mind for years to come. JUST DO IT!

sb Loc: Florida's East Coast

I have gone to Yosemite several times - and it is a long way from me - and I would go again anytime! It is always breathtaking. Then drive East through the Sierras, to Tahoe. It is an amazing drive. Spend 3-4 days in San Francisco, and maybe a few days in Monterrey Bay. Drive down the coastal highway to the Hearst Castle... There is so much to see in that region. I cannot go to SF without making a pilgrimage to the Golden Gate Bridge - to view it from multiple locations and to walk a little ways out on the sidewalk - whether I take photos or not. It IS one of the wonders of the world. Of course, the day trip to Alcatraz from the SF Pier is a must!

Monument Valley: Make it a side trip - but plan on spending a few days in Chinle, Arizona, so that you can go with a Navajo guide into the Canyon de Chelley. It is probably one of the most fascinating relatively unknown spots in the US. Sit on the South rim across from the White House Ruins as the sun comes up, slowly lighting the canyon floor. I did that many years ago....from the canyon floor came a song in Navajo - I assumed from someone tending their sheep - but you know - I never saw anyone down there..... so who knows?

Chris

not really but I have gone to the places and been thoroughly disappointed, Yosemite was one of them. We went on a 2 year photo tour and was really looking forward to it.

User ID

Amen ! Light is primary. Below are two pix of same subject. No travel beyond ten miles, and no crowds. And acoarst no midday sun. The daylight version is in the rain, as the grey sky began to break up, late in the day.
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radiojohn

While I don't get to travel much, I find similar "dullness" in my local area. That's when I leave the fancy gear at home and go out with cameras downright primitive...even the latest "kids' cameras" that often cost under $20.

A few years ago I got involved with what I presumed was a newly-designed fixed focus camera with no review screen. It was a refreshing experience and the results were put on display in Taiwan! I'm sure part of it was that Minnesota looks a LOT different to them!

Turns out the camera was a derivative of something Ikea sold a few years ago and the story of it's origin may have been hot air. But the experience of putting aside a lot of complexity was fun.

User ID

So it’s a camera made of chipboard and cheap veneer and called an “Ikamera” ?

CamB Loc: Juneau, Alaska

I try to manage expectations and have a plan. Example: Paris. 4th visit and I’ve been to all the ‘spots’. My chances of getting a better shot than the young, energetic and creative local photographers who shoot theses spots fifty times a year in all types of light and conditions is next to nil. I don’t even try. Last trip I decided to shoot the Eiffel tower ‘as the locals see it’. Prowled the back streets for four days catching those unexpected views and got lots of fun shots. The goal made it fun and I got a number of photographs you never see when purusing pictures of Paris.
…Cam

Curmudgeon Loc: SE Arizona

That is really too bad. Yosemite NP is not a photo op Yosemite is a living, changing, magic place that can only be experienced in person. If you are going only to take pictures and check off a place on your bucket list don't waste your time. You'll only get in the way of people who are there because Yosemite is like no other place on earth.