Travel
Photographer Captures Reality Behind Dream Landmarks From All Over The World
See the famous monuments through fresh eyes and in a different and new perspective like you’ve never seen them before.
We see countless photographs of famous landmarks by tourists. Whenever we travel, we can take up to hundreds of shots to always try to capture the perfect picturesque view in front of us. Being up close to a famous monument of a certain country is not just about seeing the art itself but also being able to have a grasp of the history behind the places almost as if you become a part of something bigger, something more.
But, have you ever wondered what it truly is like being in the exact place? What is it like around the Pyramids in Egypt and The Great Wall of China? How does it look like behind Christ the Redeemer in Rio?
Photographer Oliver Curtis‘ life turned around when went to Cairo for a freelance assignment four years ago. He visited the Great Pyramid of Giza and thought about capturing what he saw behind and around. Who would have thought that there’d be a golf course behind the great stone tents and countless trash from the visitors?
Curtis said that he was struck by people’s treatment of the environment, especially even ones right next to such a historical monument. He added that people are only focused on spending for the structure while overlooking the rest of the environment.
This inspired him to create his series entitled “Volte-face,” after a Latin phrase meaning to turning around to face the opposite direction in movement or attitude.
Curtis says it is an invitation to turn around and see a new aspect of the over-photographed sites of the world – to send your gaze elsewhere and to favour the incidental over the monumental.
Pyramid Of Khufu, Giza, Egypt
His trip to the Egypt is what started his series after he saw what was behind the Pyramids.
Great Wall of China, Mutianyu, China
The never before seen view of the Great Wall.
Lenin’s Tomb, Moscow, Russia
Captured from the perspective of Lenin’s tomb.
Mao Mausoleum, Tiananmen Square, Beijing, China
Behind the Mao Mausoleum are the tourists huddled together to take a picture.
Mona Lisa, Louvre, Paris, France
“The Wedding at Cana,” by Paolo Veronese is directly behind the famous Mona Lisa.
Parthenon, Athens, Greece
View of the magnificent Parthenon of Greece.
Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico
Reichstag, Berlin, Germany
A side that looks modern in contrast to the Reichstag in Berlin.
Sagrada Familia, Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain
The chill atmosphere in a scene captured behind Sagrada Familia in Spain.
Statue of Liberty, New York, USA
Tourists admiring the statue and taking photographs of Liberty.
St. Mark’s Square, Venice, Italy
A photo of a photo of a couple being taken directly behind St. Mark’s Square.
St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Vatican
The view surrounding the Basilica.
Lincoln Memorial, Washington D.C., USA
Pointing the camera to a different direction revealed the people at work behind the captured moments.
Stonehenge, Wiltshire, UK
Before getting to the enchanting Stonehenge.
Taj Mahal, Agra, India
The opposite view of the Taj Mahal still gives one the feel of the aura of the place.
Wailing Wall, Jerusalem, Israel
Caught in the picture is a man passing through just in the right time.
White House, Washington D.C., USA
A woman captured laying under the tree just in front of the White House in D. C.
World Trade Centre or Ground Zero, New York, USA
Angel of Independence, Mexico City, Mexico
Hollywood Sign, Los Angeles, USA
The not-so-glamorous scene behind the flashy sign.
Buckingham Palace, London, UK
Christ the Redeemer, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A breathtaking view less seen captured surrounding the great Christ the Redeemer in Rio.
Colosseum, Rome, Italy
Plastic-wrapped “David” replicas for souvenirs just behind the Colosseum.
Eiffel Tower, Paris, France
An apartment building neighboring the famous Eiffel Tower.
Who would have thought that by seeing these photographs of what it is like behind the famous places we would feel more like we were in the moment ourselves?
Curtis hopes his photos inspire people to look at the world from a different perspective when we travel. Let us not forget to help preserve these monumental landmarks.