This chapter begins by recognising that photo taking occurs along the gradient of casual to serious leisure. First, the degree of effort and intensity with which tourists pursue image capturing activity is explored. A second way to examine tourist photography is through a detailed analysis of the actual behaviours that can be seen when tourists set themselves up and pose for and take photos. This work is built on the human ethology tradition. Here the interest is in the sequence of movements that result in common poses which are identified and portrayed. A brief commentary on the tradition of the selfie is offered. As a third theme, the rich symbolic meanings that taking and posing for photographs may embody are reviewed. The view taken is that tourist photographers and photography should not be denigrated by researchers but seen as offering insights into roles and identities. As a part of this third theme, some attempt is made to consider the different cultural meanings of those who capture images and present themselves for the lens.
Institutional Login
Log in with Open Athens, Shibboleth, or your institutional credentials
Personal login
Log in with your Elgar Online account
