AIBU to be frustrated at this trend of turning nice places into queues?

[Emori]

I've noticed this phenomenon across Europe, specifically in Italy, Spain and Greece in the past year where I've been somewhere on a day out, tourist attractions so obviously always going to be busy with lots of people taking photos etc, now there's an additional queuing etiquette which is something else. It's like there are certain points within the attraction where people get fucked off with you just walking around like a normal person and instead expect you to stand in a line to take a photograph. Even though there's no official signs to such effect. I find it really spoils my enjoyment, appreciation and concentration. Am I alone in this?

If people are trying to take photos and you keep wandering in and out of people's shots, then I'd say that you're the problem. Why do you need to concentrate? Why not pay attention to what those around you are doing?

I agree with you OP. If I want to mooch around an art gallery or a museum or a cathedral looking at whatever catches my eye, then I'll do it. That's the point of these types of places, I'm not going to hold myself up because people want to take a photo of something that's being displayed for enjoyment.

Unless you're talking about something like one of those big city signs that essentially exists for people to have their photos taken with. Then YABU.

@Greggsit People take photos all the time. Cameras are everywhere. I don't photo bomb but I can't be arsed with ducking and diving around so you can get your "perfect" shot . If you want a nice photo, buy a guidebook or a postcard. You'll probably never look at the particular photo you took, one of a hundred likely, again anyway.

I actually think it's pretty sociopathic, to see other people who exist in the world as being unnecessary clutter on your camera reel.

If you're that triggered by their presence, just use AI to edit them out of your photos. Then you can pretend that they were never there and that you really are all alone in the world. At the Acropolis. For example. Because that's sooo real.

I disagree. In the past if taking a photo in a busy place you’d just accept people would be in the background. Now people want an Instagram perfect shot, often with several poses. Sorry, but it’s not a private photo shoot. I’m not waiting ten minutes if i want to walk through a public area.

I’m sure the op wants to concentrate on what she’s gone to see, so in a cathedral for examples looking up at the roof and stained glass, not constantly watching for people taking photos.

Now people want an Instagram perfect shot, often with several poses.

Yes, exactly, and they queue up in places where they've seen other people taking Instagram shots. It's absolute bullshit. You can't just stand or walk or sit or eat a sandwich or whatever - you have to queue, take a photo, and leave. Wtf??!

I would hate it 😬 so theyve actually sort of self policed it as a photo spot? With an implicit timer? So you can just lean on some ancient masonry and look at t he view and soak in the atmosphere? What a shitshow. What happens if you don't follow their rules?

You get asked to move out of "the way" 😕

It really is true that man is free but is everywhere in chains. We've gone from people just wandering around looking at stuff to people queuing for photos. Probably pretty soon the whole world will just be lots of queues of people waiting to take photos.

I take pleasure in photo-bombing these idiots. I live in a tourist city: I have no time to patiently wait while some hapless young chap films/photograph his narcissistic girlfriend leaning on a column/walking wistfully down a tree-lined avenue.

Get out of my fucking way, better yet, put that bloody iPhone and actually experience where you are!

Top of Snowden is a case in point. Often a massive queue of 30 plus people patiently waiting for their “turn” at a photo at the top. Having to take it in turns to ensure they have a solo,photo with nobody else in it. Most of whom came up on the train I reckon.

no way am i waiting for that bollocks, scramble up to the trig on the other side. Honestly you’d think you’d murdered someone! Everyone is welcome to do the same, not stopping them 😁

Here….people never used to do this!

I live in a tourist city too and to likewise. It’s the props that blow my mind. They haul around a bag of hats / bags etc to try out different accessories for different views. The views themselves are rarely glanced at. It’s so depressing!

Totally agree! Saw this at St Paul’s last week and it was wild! Couldn’t work out what they were queuing for until I noticed the photo spot - it must be some insta perfect place to take a photo with the St Paul’s backdrop. It’s insane. And all the bloody posing!!!! We’ve lost our minds 😩

😲 That's crazy! And @Colourpurplepalette, the accessories 😂

YANBU. I travelled through SE Asia at the start of the year and saw this a lot-weird and annoying! If you just want to look rather than take a photo people get annoyed!

Yes- incredibly busy European street, pedestrian crossing- strange hold up- transpired some twat had asked a complete stranger to video her walking across the road using her phone

I would love to see you just appearing in their shot! Why do people tolerate it though - surely you just say, I am having my photo taken shove over a bit

That Snowdon photo 🤯

A nice, orderly queue of Zuckerberg slaves.

Social media really has got us, hasn’t it?

I totally agree OP, I went somewhere in Italy this year that had previously been a lovely quiet town and you could hardly move this year. So many selfies being taken and it just felt horrible.

disclaimer I am old and grumpy so maybe just me 😜

Also, there is a red phone box near the Houses of Parliament and you can see Big Ben in the background, and there huge queues to get photos taken there. I see people doing it on my way to work and can’t help but think life is way too short.

Yes, this at the end of the millennium bridge looking back to St Paul’s. I was walking on to the bridge and people are queuing. They weren’t queuing to walk but to take a photo. It was a great shot but I was just trying to get to work. If you then look on Instagram there are hundreds of all the same photos . I’m often in a bit of a dream world wandering around so frequently blunder into these things.
previously you would have taken one or two snaps , it’s the staging of the picture photos which is fascinating to me.

A tad dramatic!

Yes!! I saw this last time I was in London and was so puzzled, I thought it must be a famous phone box or something then my husband clicked what they were doing! My son had wanted a photo with Big Ben in the background so we'd just snapped a quick shot two seconds up road, no queue, not in anyone's way.....is it the Instagram perfect shot? No. But it showed my son, in the moment, happy and the fact it's a quick shot in a busy spot is part of it!

St Marks square in Venice was full of people trying to get the perfect picture of themselves. One girl, wearing a ballgown of course, spent ages trying to get a video of herself walking towards the Doge’s palace, away from the camera. Every time she tried someone walked behind or in front of her and “spoiled” it. Another whole family did the same, but with a professional cameraman to get a shot of them holding hands and jumping. Great entertainment while we drank aperol spritzes and actually looked at the view.

Agree agree agree!
And people get annoyed that you don't need to queue as you don't want a photo in that exact Instagramable place and instead you can just walk round enjoying it

I'm not sure people have the right to stop the world to take a photo, especially if there's a queue waiting to do the same thing.