ABSTRACT
Attractions are an important form of presence-at-hand and novelty that are sought during travel. The initiatory nature of experiencing attractions is closely connected to the totemism inherent in sightseeing. The attractions make sense as representations to gaze at. The determination of what the attractions are representations of, is an essential component of the tourist discourse. Markers pointing to the attraction, like a mention in a tour programme, car parks, souvenir vendors and busloads of tourists, take away the element of surprise. Photography is one of the most usual things to do on travel. Photographs document the reach pursued, whether that reach has involved strange cultures, uplifting attractions, inspirational landscapes, or social interaction within the travelling group. Looking through tourists' travel photographs reveals that the content and composition of them are invariably adopted from the same conventions. After the trip those documents partly justify it and give impression that something has been accomplished.
