How to (Almost) Always Get the Photo of Popular and Iconic Locations

Some photo locations that are iconic. They almost always attract a crowd of photographers who want to get the shot, whether a professional with a $10,000 collection of camera gear or a vacationer with an iPhone. We’re all photographers these days.

The bustle of the crowds used to keep me away, and the lack of originality in the compositions dampened my creative spirit, but I’ve learned to embrace the bustle and seek out a few of the greatest hits of photo locations. Here are some things I’ve learned that might help you navigate these places.

Arrive early. I mean, really early.

The most important (and obvious) advice is to arrive early. I usually try to imagine what a normal person would think is ridiculously early. I try to get there earlier than that. I’m currently in Grand Teton National Park. On Tuesday, I visited the famous Moulton Barn and then, this morning, set up at Schwabacher Landing, another standard bearer of the Teton photoverse. Both mornings, I arrived about an hour and a half before sunrise and had my choice of compositions.

When I visited Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park in January, I arrived three hours before sunrise to make sure I had my choice of viewpoints. I did this two mornings in a row.

When I visited Cape Disappointment in Ilwaco, Washington for the king tides, I set up my tripod an hour before sunrise and was first on location.

Minimize the stress of navigating the crowds.

At Mesa Arch, I could have arrived an hour and a half before sunrise and I still would have been the first on location. I was more than happy for the extra cushion of time because it took away the stress of possibly missing out. These locations can be stressful. Yesterday, a photographer yelled at tourists who wandered in front of Moulton Barn for barn selfies. He said, “Hey!!! You’re in the way. I’ve been here for an hour.” I rarely encounter yelling, but there is usually some grumbling. It comes with the territory. I’ve learned to ignore the noise.

Minimize the crowds by visiting in the off-season.

My favorite times in National Parks are in late-fall and early-spring when the crowds are minimal. In January, at Mesa Arch, it was just me and one other photographer. I’ve hiked the most popular hikes in Glacier National Park in late fall, and there were days that I didn’t see another soul the whole day and took photos like these shots of Hidden Lake at Logan Pass and Avalanche Creek on the Avalanche Lake trail.

Hang around after the crowds leave for fresh perspectives.

The herds of photographers that show up at these places often leave just as quickly as they arrive. After obvious photo opportunities are eclipsed by changing light or obstructing clouds, there are fresh perspectives worth exploring. This is when our creative impulses can break free and explore with fresh eyes. When the soft light faded this morning at Schwabacher Landing, and after the crowds keft, I hung around and took this photo from a different location. Here you can also see some photos of Mesa Arch after the “best” light faded.

Learn from these locations so you can create your own iconic compositions.

I was skeptical about Moulton Barn. I didn’t think it would live up to all the hype, and I didn’t expect to come away with anything special. After spending a morning watching the light illuminate the Tetons and the textures of the barn, I am a covert. There is a reason it’s the most photographed barn in the world. It’s a magical combination of history and beauty, and I’ll definitely revisit it on my next trip to the Tetons. This experience is my usual routine. I go in skeptical and come away convinced.

These icons of the photo world are studies in photographic composition, and they can help us learn about what makes an image compelling. They are each a little master class in the art of photography. The experience of being there is so much more than an Instagram feed or Google image search can ever convey. If we take these lessons from the masters we’ll be better equipped to find our own undiscovered icons.

I'd like to think these lessons helped me “discover” this photo of the northern lights over Grand Prismatic Spring. I couldn't find other photos online of the aurora over the Spring, so I hiked up not knowing what to expect. I had the Overlook all to myself with only a grunting bison to keep me company. I’m sure there are similar photos out there, but there was nothing obvious about the composition, which makes it more rewarding.

Good luck navigating the crowds, and don’t forget to the arrive earlier than a normal person would ever consider reasonable.