Photographer Takes Pictures Of Famous Landmarks Facing The Wrong Direction

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satirequeen
May 18, 2021 1:30 PM EDT

Whenever anyone visits a famous landmark, the first thing they do is take a picture of themselves standing in front of it or just of the site itself. Imagine how many pictures there are out there of the same places, from slightly different angles, but all showing the same thing. But what happens if you have a different perspective, and choose to do something a little, well... backward? Photographer Oliver Curtis decided to mix things up when he visited famous places and took his photos from the wrong direction. He wanted to "turn around, and see a new aspect of the over-photographed sites of the world - to gaze elsewhere and to favor the incidental over the monumental." His collection of pictures seeks to draw attention to the fact that "It is easy to forget that these attractions are also places of work, staffed by janitors, security guards, cleaners and office guards who have a lack of awe born from daily exposure. Yet, despite not being present, the images are still suffused with their aura."

Check out the incredible pictures below, and see how many you would recognize if the names weren't written in!

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  • 01
    Table - TAJ MAHAL, INDIA
    via olivercurtis
  • 02
    Sky - CHRIST THE REDEEMER, RIO DE JANEIRO
    via olivercurtis
  • 03
    Wall - WAILING WALL, JERUSALEM
    via olivercurtis
  • 04
    Hair - MONA LISA, LOUVRE
    via olivercurtis
  • 05
    Sky - STONEHENGE, UK
    via olivercurtis
  • 06
    Snow - LENIN'S TOMB, RUSSIA Kodak tuju
    via olivercurtis
  • 07
    Soil - PYRAMID OF THE SUN, TEOTIHUACAN
    via olivercurtis
  • 08
    Crowd - ARA CPARANN MAO MAUSOLEUM, TIANANMEN SQUARE
    via olivercurtis
  • 09
    Leg - Hori BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON
    via olivercurtis
  • 10
    Solar panel - STATUE OF LIBERTY, NEW YORK
    via olivercurtis
  • 11
    Transport - GREAT WALL OF CHINA, MUTIANYU 坡陡路滑 注意安全 Steep slippery slope Pey attanon to satety
    via olivercurtis
  • 12
    Sky - PARTHENON, GREECE
    via olivercurtis
  • 13
    Architecture - REICHSTAG, BERLIN 101
    via olivercurtis
  • 14
    Landmark - ST. PETER'S BASILICA, VATICAN CITY EIFFEL TOWER, PARIS
    via olivercurtis
  • 15
    Tree - WHITE HOUSE, WASHINGTON D.C.
    via olivercurtis
  • 16
    Architecture - ANGEL OF INDEPENDENCE, MEXICO CITY
    via olivercurtis
  • 17
    Soil - HOLLYWOOD SIGN, LOS ANGELES
    via olivercurtis
  • 18
    Wall - LINCOLN MEMORIAL WASHINGTON D.C.
    via olivercurtis
  • 19
    Natural environment - PYRAMID OF KHUFU, GIZA
    via olivercurtis

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direction photography art funny pics famous wrong direction places culture photographer
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