A clear shot need not be so clear...

You might be one of those who, while photographing monuments or scenery, get frustrated about people getting into the frame and spoiling that perfect shot.

In fact it is almost impossible to get a clear shot at popular tourist spots. So does one give up in despair and shove the camera in the bag?

I for one make it a point to include people in my shots. There are several reasons for this.

Taking snaps of monuments and places devoid of people actually makes your photographs dull and lifeless.

But when you include people in your composition it adds a sense drama and dynamism to the scene.

Including people strategically in the composition can turn your picture into a narrative.

Another case for including people in your photographs is to create a sense of atmosphere and mood of the place.

Including people in your snaps also helps in conveying the scale and proportion of the monuments and architectural elements in your photographs.

Sometime it is more interesting to capture the moods and postures of the people against interesting backdrops to create a compelling image.

Having a powerful lens is a distinct advantage while shooting such candid shots.
A sense of spontaneity is achieved when you are able to take a shot without the subject being aware.

The trick is to compose the scene which includes people without losing out on the essentials of the place you have come to shoot.

I also love shooting people who are shooting other people :-)

And, if the people are more interesting than the place, then I close in..

These photographs were taken at Pattadakal World Heritage site, Karnataka, India.