Have you ever been to Mesa Arch in Canyonlands (other than in winter)? What about Oxbow Bend in Grand Tetons National Park? How about Yosemite, Zion National Park, or the slot canyons in Page, Arizona? If you have you will understand the challenges faced in dealing with the crowds of people hindering a clear shot. If you have not attempted to photograph these icons when a lot of tourists are around, don't worry, let me just show you what it is like ...

This is what I encountered while doing my best to get decent images of Horseshoe Bend near Page, Arizona. Good luck with doing serious photography. Now before we lose hope let's think about things first. In my experience, I have found the general tourist to be a different breed than serious photographers. Serious photographers can be really hard to deal with because they want that shot! I can tell you horror stories of photographers blindly ignoring their fellow photographers and willfully and deliberately just walk into the scene in front of everyone else or take up a position in such a place that everyone else's opportunity is ruined. When dealing with them start talking to them early on. Build friendships, talk shop. Create camaraderie with them. This makes things easier if you have to ask them later to also give you an opportunity.

          Then there is the general tourist. I would like to break this group up into two groups. There are those who would gladly cooperate with you and move out of the way. They may even be willing to move even after being there first. Just ask them nicely to help you and they typically comply. Be nice to them. Work quickly and move on so that they can have their spot back. Thank them. The second group of general tourists typically arrive by bus and originate from countries where private space is minimal. They do not seem to have concern for others in terms of space and who stands where. When I see these people I just leave, I get out of their way. The good thing is that their bus leaves after a few minutes so I come back in a few minutes. However, when the light is good pausing my work is not a good option. In this case, I wander off to one side and shoot from there. They cannot follow me because they do not have the time; their bus will be leaving shortly. If I photograph a spot where many such buses frequent I will set up apart, to the one side just far enough that they are out of my shot. It also makes it easier to clone people out if I cannot eliminate them totally from my shot. Since I am further along they become smaller in the image.

          I also set up where most people are not willing to go (effort quickly persuades people to give up). I choose nooks and crannies where there is only space for me. I don't get upset, they help me find vantage points or a different look that may not be that obvious had I stayed where everyone stays. Here is the result:

You can see that I am in a spot where no one else can join me. I climbed down into a little tight space. I am shooting in the opposite direction of where the people are and I got the shot, at least I think so.