I totally see how you mean here Marie! It's like you wan't feel that "oooh, ahhh" unless you travel to a place you don't see everyday, then you will see things that are different and amaze you. But I bet Montreal is a beautiful place in it's own, I only say that because I have never been there before.... I almost say if you follow one of those tourists around and see what amazes them maybe you could have a good photo for the contest for us to oooo at. I know what you mean though it's hard to take pictures of something that's not interesting. I will try to give this contest a try we will see

Tourists take pictures just to take pictures...
There is no feeling to it most of the times...
I was at work driving the other day and while I was waiting at a red light, I saw one tourist holding her camera towards an old building, but the higher part and also facing the sun on a mostly gray day...
I didn't have to look at the viewfinder to know that the picture was just to get an image... not to get something beautiful... to my eyes anyways...
I find most cities un-beautiful anyways... but, that is the old country woman-me speaking

Damn italians gonna win, unless I go to my neighboring city and shoot some of the old Spanish/Victorian blend architecture. I bet I'll get disqualified

youre gonne lose because you catn use youre brain to think at a photo than not necessarly has to be a FAMOUS ARCHITECTURE one

No need to go around insulting people. Especially when what you're saying is senseless and not based on any data, while what I say has been documented in countless 'preference' surveys, many of which include brain-waive research.

If someone sees a photo of a building they recognize, and the photo is decent, it will be interpreted as superior than a photo of a building that is random, but has much more pleasing photographic qualities to it.

THIS IS CALLED THE FAMILIARITY CONDITION

There is a reason why it feels different to see a person you recognize in the street amidst a flow of strangers than just seeing someone that looks pretty.
The same effect will occur when someone shoots the Eiffel tower vs a humble shack, even if the tower is crooked, motion moved, and poorly exposed.

And just for the record, I did some heavy real-estate photography before shooting weddings.

This post was edited by onepagememory on Feb 16 2011 11:49am

never eard of that familarity condition, ill give it a look, if you can suggest some books or articles on the internet
could be, and i think probably its true, but i dont think famous > casual all the time

btw, i dont think people will go in capitals just to win a jsp contest, most probable is that we all just photograph something near us
thouhgt yours just an excuse to justify an eventual failure in the contest

It would be incredibly amusing to find that I received more votes than yourself in this contest.

Go there! I love old Spanish Architecture! DO IT FOR ME!!!

It's the world's most dangerous city, in the city's most dangerous area, and to get nice lighting, it has to be at the worst time of day to be there.
I'm shooting this with a rebel or somethin.