Sony Mobile has recently released new research that reveals the 30 most photographed landmarks in the world. Compiled over the past four years using data from Instagram and in partnership with OnePoll, we now know not only which is the world’s most-photographed landmark (congratulations, Eiffel Tower) but that many of the most highly photographed attractions are shot from the same three angles… over and over and over again. And Instagrammers have noticed, with nearly half saying they’re bored of the repetition, and more than half noting that they’re more likely to “like” a photo taken from an unusual angle.
Dubai’s Burj Khalifa, it may come as little surprise, is one of the most-photographed landmarks, coming in at number five in the list, beating out other global favourites such as Times Square (#9), Taj Mahal (#17), and Buckingham Palace (#20). And it’s also one that photographers are drawn to snapping from the same three perspectives – 43 per cent of the time. Inspiring ‘grammers to create from #NewPerspectives, Sony Mobile has suited up award-winning photographers around the world with the Sony Xperia XZ to find new and compelling ways to shoot the sights.
In the UAE, travel photographer Mikael Buck set out to capture the world’s tallest building in a new light. Here, he offers his top tips to find unique compositions of your own, and share his #NewPerspectives on the iconic skyscraper.
- Talk to the staff in the observation decks to get their advice on the best angles and unique viewpoints. These guys know the building inside out and have seen it in all kinds of light and conditions.
- Spend some time in a taxi driving around the Burj Khalifa looking for the perfect angle; the building's monumental size means that there are myriad different spots you can photograph it from.
- If you want a compelling and unique picture you are going to need to treat it more like a landscape photo of a mountain. That means getting further away and exploring different angles. Try heading to the Business Bay area from where you can look back to Burj Khalifa and your view is not obstructed by any other buildings.
- Embrace the harsh midday sunlight; everyone has seen photographs of the Burj Khalifa at sunset and lit up at night. See if you can make it work in the harder sunlight of the middle of the day. Braving the heat will be worth it if you make the reflections and bright light a feature of your image.
- Look for the shadow: at 828 metres tall Burj Khalifa casts a big one. Try going up to one of the observation decks and looking down at the shade it casts. For this picture to work you need the “Goldilocks” times of mid-morning or mid-afternoon.
- Don’t lose sight of the building’s story and unique design. Of course you want a shot that’s different and unique but the trick is to achieve that while making the image recognisably the Burj Khalifa.