Visually documenting the important sites visited is the primary mission of the traveler and the camera is his most effective instrument for achieving his goal. If he is visiting Paris, he must take a picture of himself standing in front of the Eiffel Tower and if he is in San Francisco, he must have one with the Golden Gate Bridge. This 'postcard image' of place serves as proof that he has in fact visited these locations. Rather than just settling with purchasing the postcards (which are now mere nostalgic reminders of the past) or superimposing himself on a downloaded image with the help of Photoshop, the traveler strives for authenticity in his quest for a sense of place.
I am guilty of this crime myself. In the image above, I am standing in front of a view of Gamla stan-the Old City of Stockholm, Sweden. Yet the notion of cities reduced to a few iconic images undermines a true sense of place. In a globalized world represented by visual media, it is easy to forget that cities are dynamic entities where people (and their actions), not just the built environment, define their character.
I am guilty of this crime myself. In the image above, I am standing in front of a view of Gamla stan-the Old City of Stockholm, Sweden. Yet the notion of cities reduced to a few iconic images undermines a true sense of place. In a globalized world represented by visual media, it is easy to forget that cities are dynamic entities where people (and their actions), not just the built environment, define their character.
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