12 Of The Most Photogenic Monuments In The World

The world is full of amazing places to photograph. Some of these are natural landscapes or amazing cultural festivals. But arguably the most iconic are the famous monuments that we have all seen thousands of photos of. But does that mean they shouldn’t be photographed? These are rightly some of the most popular photo spots in the world, so here are 12 of the most photogenic monuments in the world.

Eiffel Tower

The creation of Gustave Eiffel, “La dame de fer”, (the Iron Lady), stands proud in the centre of Paris. But that wasn’t always the case. In fact, when Eiffel first put forward the proposal for his wrought-iron lattice tower, it was met by huge opposition from the artistic elite. It was described as a “metal asparagus” that would overshadow the beautiful buildings of Paris such as Notre Dame and Arc de Triomphe. Nowadays, it is loved by the majority of Parisians and is seen as a cultural and historical symbol of France.

Tower Bridge

Not to be confused with the unremarkable-looking London Bridge, Tower Bridge was constructed between 1886 and 1894 due to the need to connect the centre of London to the growing east end of London via a bridge further down the River Thames. However, a traditional bridge that sat at road level wouldn’t work as it would block access for ships using the various docks along the river. Construction on the bridge started on the 22nd of April 1886 and was officially opened in June 1894.

Machu Pichu

The mere mention of this place conjures up visions of explorers of yesteryear. This lost city in the tropical mountain forest of the Peruvian Andes in the northwest of Cuzco is believed to have been a royal residence or possibly a sacred religious site of the Inca’s. It remained hidden until 1911 when American archaeologist Hiram Bingham stumbled upon it. When Bingham arrived in Urubamba Valley a local farmer told him of the ruins on top of the mountain. He called the mountain “Machu Picchu” which means “Old Peak” in the Quechua language. Led by an 11-year-old boy, on July 24th, Bingham finally reached the lost city.

Taj Mahal

This incredible mausoleum might just be the grandest act of love in history. Commissioned by Mughal emperor Shah Jahan in 1632 and taking over 20 years to complete, it houses the remains of the Shah’s beloved wife. Sitting beside the Yamuna River in Agra and built from white marble which mimics the colour of the light throughout the day, this is one of the most stunning and famous pieces of architecture in the world which combines Indian, Persian and Islamic influences.

The Great Wall of China

This ancient series of fortifications built across what is now northern China needs no introduction. It is one of the most incredible feats of engineering and is riddled with mystery, myths and questions. It is also one of the most popular photography locations in the world. Photographing the wall is not easy as you are often facing hoards of tourists. So the biggest advice is to arrive early morning and hope for great light and some mist in the mountains.

Colosseum

A glimpse into the magnificence of the Roman empire stands proud in the centre of Rome. The amphitheatre was the largest ever built and dates back to AD80 when up to 80,000 spectators cheered on gladiators. Photographing the Colosseum is relatively straightforward, but capturing unique shots is not. Look for interesting angles and geometric shapes and you can always use it as a background for a point of interest in the foreground. Blue hour shots using slow exposure will also look great.

Angkor Wat

The first sight of the largest religious structure in the world is enough to make the hairs stand on the back of your neck. The classic shot from the front of the complex at sunrise is often on the bucket list of photographers. Unfortunately, that involves sharing the area with hundreds of other tourists and photographers. But Angkor Wat offers so many more photo opportunities than just this classic shot. Keep your eyes open when wandering around the temples and you may find the striking orange robes of the monks punctuating the scenery. And don’t forget about the close-up shots of the intricate carvings.

St Basil’s Cathedral

It is hard to believe that a man that committed so many atrocities was also responsible for this marvel in the centre of Moscow. Ivan the Terrible ordered the building of the church to commemorate the capture of Kazan and Astrakhan. The colourful Orthodox church in Moscow’s Red Square was completed in 1561 and was the tallest building in the city for almost 40 years. With good light it almost impossible not to capture a beautiful photo of this museum. Its location next to the political heart of Russia (the Kremlin) provides ample photo opportunities.

The Great Pyramid of Giza

The oldest of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramid of Giza dominates the desert landscape. This mighty structure never fails to amaze and like all the great monuments of the world, there are plenty of opportunities for great photos as long as you are willing to be patient and persistent. Look for interesting foreground additions such as camel herders to incorporate into your shots.

Christ Redeemer

The 30-meter high statue of Christ located at the peak of Corcovado mountain overlooking Rio de Janeiro is a symbol of Christianity across the world and one of the new seven wonders of the world. Whilst you can capture photos of the statue from near the statue itself, the best shots are arguably from Sugarloaf. But this is a busy spot so you may want to head up at sunrise to avoid the crowds (but be aware that some parts of the city are not safe when it’s dark. Check with your hotel to be sure).

Empire State Building

The worlds tallest building until the construction of the World Trade Center in 1970, is one of the world’s most iconic buildings. But what makes photographing it so special is that there is almost a perfect viewing area to do so from the top of the Rockefeller Center. From the “top of the rock”, the Empire State Building is perfectly positioned to photograph at sunset with views of Manhattan and beyond.

Neuschwanstein Castle

The ultimate fairytale castle deep in Bavaria was commissioned by King Ludwig II as his personal retreat. Construction began in 1869 but was never completed due to his death in 1886. The most popular location for photos is from the metal bridge that is the “Neuschwanstein Castle viewpoint”. But if you are prepared to do some walking you can capture a variety of different shots from the different walking trails in the area.

These are just some of the famous monuments in the world that are worthy of photographs. The reality is that this list could be entirely different and much longer. For example, there is the Tiger’s Nest in Bhutan, So, if haven’t already been why not add them to your bucket list. Just make sure you take plenty of memory cards.

Photo credits: Kav Dadfar – All rights reserved. No usage without permission. Dreamstime.