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Instagram is replacing the guide book. And because people are more digitally connected, a lot of their storytelling has become visual and so visually remarkable

by prawn 8y ago

Instagram is replacing the guide book. And because people are more digitally connected, a lot of their storytelling has become visual and so visually remarkable sights have grown in popularity. I can't see it going away anytime soon - my state tourism authority uses social media as a key tool in their efforts. This weekend just been, I was flown to a location by said authority, given a car for four days and basically set loose to photograph whatever interested me. (I shoot with a drone.) Anyway, at the first of the two fixed experiences of the weekend (an oyster farm), I was sitting near two girls who had driven 700km for a weekend in this location all because they'd seen a girl's photograph on Instagram, shared by the authority. Coincidentally, that girl was seated five metres from them and also in the area shooting for the tourism authority because of how powerful social is now. The authority chaperone was right there in the middle to witness the power of her daily work. For anyone who cares, this is my work: https://www.instagram.com/__serio__/ https://www.instagram.com/__serio__/ This is the shot the girls had seen: https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs2aWsbHxT0/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Bs2aWsbHxT0/ I imagine the average HN user imagines these "travel couples" to be particularly obnoxious and I'm sure some are (like any subset of people), but this couple were very genuine and great people. Like me, they get out there because one hobby is photography; just a bit different to that of the typical landscape photographer. No where we shot that weekend was anywhere near crowded. I almost always had miles and miles of pristine beach to myself. At this location, there would've been no one on that beach for 3-5 km in either direction, just 15+ dolphins playing in the waves. https://www.instagram.com/p/Buo4NcFDxU7/ https://www.instagram.com/p/Buo4NcFDxU7/

Cederfjard 8y ago
>No where we shot that weekend was anywhere near crowded. I almost always had miles and miles of pristine beach to myself. At this location, there would've been no one on that beach for 3-5 km in either direction, just 15+ dolphins playing in the waves. Isn't this point a little disingenuous when you live in a country that's almost the size of USA or Europe, but only has 25 million inhabitants, and people from other countries have to travel far to get there?
- prawn 8y ago
  It wasn't a point, more a clarification that this area is not quite on the same level of tourism as someone living with it in Western Europe, Thailand, etc. I was adding real world experience that it's not just social-media-is-the-new-guide-book, but that tourism authorities are actively pushing it too. (Can't edit my earlier comment, but the italics were from an asterisk/footnote rather than intended emphasis.)
- nitemice 8y ago
  Not really. There are plenty of areas of Australia that are thoroughly clogged with tourists, especially from Asia, which isn't so far to travel.
extra88 8y ago
> No where we shot that weekend was anywhere near crowded Then the photography hasn't done its job yet. Will you like that beach more when it looks like this? https://www.wonderslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bondi-Beach-New-South-Wales.jpg https://www.wonderslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bondi...
- prawn 8y ago
  Funnily enough the beach is called Avoid Bay. I had to track down that location via satellite maps and then walk 1km+ through scrub on kangaroo trails to get to the beach. Any 4WD evidence in the area looked to be very old and long-since blocked off. I'd guess maybe any other access had been by boat, but even then, most people would probably head to more accessible and just as attractive beaches instead. Everyone has a right to experience it, and I had the same experience or close to it on countless beaches in that area. We'd need a lot more people visiting before it got to even a hundredth of Bondi. Any touristed location will reach an equilibrium with its crowds. There's always an alternative for those not keen on the hordes. Go to Simitai instead of Badaling. The Louvre has countless alternatives to the Mona Lisa's room. The Grand Canyon has dozens of vantages. You don't have to walk far from the central area of Zion National Park to have expanses to yourself. Some people take yet another photo of a popular attraction. Others visit an online discussion and throw another viewpoint into the maelstrom as though it achieves much of consequence. Each to their own.

by prawn 8y ago

Cederfjard 8y ago

>No where we shot that weekend was anywhere near crowded. I almost always had miles and miles of pristine beach to myself. At this location, there would've been no one on that beach for 3-5 km in either direction, just 15+ dolphins playing in the waves. Isn't this point a little disingenuous when you live in a country that's almost the size of USA or Europe, but only has 25 million inhabitants, and people from other countries have to travel far to get there?

prawn 8y ago
It wasn't a point, more a clarification that this area is not quite on the same level of tourism as someone living with it in Western Europe, Thailand, etc. I was adding real world experience that it's not just social-media-is-the-new-guide-book, but that tourism authorities are actively pushing it too. (Can't edit my earlier comment, but the italics were from an asterisk/footnote rather than intended emphasis.)
nitemice 8y ago
Not really. There are plenty of areas of Australia that are thoroughly clogged with tourists, especially from Asia, which isn't so far to travel.

extra88 8y ago

> No where we shot that weekend was anywhere near crowded Then the photography hasn't done its job yet. Will you like that beach more when it looks like this? https://www.wonderslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bondi-Beach-New-South-Wales.jpg https://www.wonderslist.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/07/Bondi...

prawn 8y ago
Funnily enough the beach is called Avoid Bay. I had to track down that location via satellite maps and then walk 1km+ through scrub on kangaroo trails to get to the beach. Any 4WD evidence in the area looked to be very old and long-since blocked off. I'd guess maybe any other access had been by boat, but even then, most people would probably head to more accessible and just as attractive beaches instead. Everyone has a right to experience it, and I had the same experience or close to it on countless beaches in that area. We'd need a lot more people visiting before it got to even a hundredth of Bondi. Any touristed location will reach an equilibrium with its crowds. There's always an alternative for those not keen on the hordes. Go to Simitai instead of Badaling. The Louvre has countless alternatives to the Mona Lisa's room. The Grand Canyon has dozens of vantages. You don't have to walk far from the central area of Zion National Park to have expanses to yourself. Some people take yet another photo of a popular attraction. Others visit an online discussion and throw another viewpoint into the maelstrom as though it achieves much of consequence. Each to their own.