10 Places You Should Stop Taking Photos
Updated: Aug. 01, 2019Our "me, me, me" mindset has led to massive influxes of tourism in certain Instagram-worthy locations that has, over time, helped to ruin landscapes and disrupt culture. For your next trip to these swoon-worthy locales, pack your walking shoes and considering turning your phone off to unplug and enjoy the scenery in real life.
Big Major Cay Island, Bahamas
After rolling in the mud, who wouldn’t want to take a dip in crystal clear water? The swimming pigs of the Bahamas have got it figured out. But, in 2017, seven pigs died from over-ingestion of sand that was mixed with food thrown on the beach. Increasingly, the famed pigs are relying on humans for food, a result of an influx of tourists likely throwing food on the beach for the good-natured pigs. Another factor that potentially contributed to the deaths of the swimming pigs is climate change; their natural water source had dried up after a particularly dry January that year.
But, because the swimming pigs have become so popular on social media, “copycat attractions” have sprung up all around the Bahamas, raising the concerns of animal rights activists, according to the Sun-Sentinel. Bottom line: Trying to snap photos of these cute piggies, and attracting even more attention to them, is potentially causing more trouble for them than it’s worth.
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Lake Elsinore, California
A mountain near this small California town experienced a wildflower superbloom this year. After a wet winter, the superbloom brought an explosion of poppies to the area—tourists and selfie-sticks in tow. City officials protested that their town was not suited for the mass influx of people, about 150,000, and ordered a #PoppyShutdown. Main roads turned into parking lots, and one city employee was even hit by a car while helping to direct traffic in the small town of just 60,000 people.
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Maya Bay, Thailand
Ecologists must have jumped with delight at the fact that this bay is closed until 2021. Daily visitors skyrocketed from 170 people to 3,500 from 2008 to 2017 after the movie The Beach popularized this beautiful beach, but all of these visitors did serious damage to the surrounding environment. During the next two years, the beach will be allowed to fully recover. Unfortunately, it might be too late for these places that have been ruined by tourism.
Pedra do Telégrafo, Brazil
This jaw-dropping spot is home to a feature that, when cropped a certain way, looks like people are dangling off a rock formation. If you visit the Pedra do Telégrafo, it will be tempting to fool people into thinking you have daredevil strength. The only thing foolish about this is that there’s solid ground just five feet below the formation.
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Rio de Janeiro’s Rocina favela, Brazil
Brazil’s favelas, shantytowns found in Rio de Janeiro, are packed, tenement-like communities that are the home to thousands of people. They have been made infamous by video games like Modern Warfare, showing illicit scenes of drugs and violence. But they are also home to creative and resourceful individuals. This juxtaposition attracts tourists who want a more rustic experience, giving rise to favela tourism. Although it sometimes benefits the village with additional cash, is it really ethical?
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Angkor Wat, Cambodia
As one of the largest religious buildings in the world, Angkor Wat has immense importance and attracts immense tourism. It’s understandable to want to photograph the gorgeous structure, but don’t forget where you are—a temple with huge symbolic significance.
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Horseshoe Bend, Arizona
Before it was the glorious structure it is now, this natural feature was glazed over by sand dunes. Over time, the dunes formed into sandstone rock and a river ran through it. Some portions of the site are protected by railings, but most are not, as an average of 12 deaths occur at the Grand Canyon each year. There have been multiple cases of people tragically falling 800 feet to their death—like this 14-year-old girl and 33-year-old-man. So before you try to push to the front of the crowd for the best photo, be mindful of where the ground ends.
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Santorini, Greece
The expansive views of the whitewashed square and dome-shaped buildings overlooking the sea come with a price. And, now, it’s a price that locals can’t afford to pay, with rising rents and cost of living, as well as increasing pressure on local infrastructure.
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Grand Mosque, United Arab Emirates
Like Angkor Wat, you should try to understand the cultural and religious significance of the location instead of snapping photos of it. It’s a mosque, so when you visit, be sure to cover up with long, loose-fitting clothing that covers your ankles and head.
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Holocaust Memorial, Berlin
The Holocaust Memorial, intended to be a place of somber remembrance, instead sees tourists taking smiling selfies. To combat this, artist Shahak Shapira created the project Yolocaust in 2017 to illuminate the absurdity of people taking smiling photos at the memorial. During the project, Shapira photoshopped black-and-white photos of Holocaust scenes into the background of modern tourist photos to highlight the disrespectful nature of the selfies. The project was taken down after just a week, with the artist explaining that the project had served its purpose.
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