Photoshop will now combine all the images and, being in the ‘mean’ stack mode, will only retain the areas in the frame that didn’t move. That means all the people are magically gone. It is possible to do this technique without a tripod. Photoshop does a great job at aligning all the frames. In the File > scripts > statistics dialog box, check the box at the bottom that reads, Attempt to Automatically Align Source Images. This approach isn’t guaranteed, but it’s worth a try if you don’t have a tripod. If tripods are allowed where you’re shooting, you’ll be guaranteed the best possible quality with a firm support. 5. Get up early Most tourists don’t get up early. They are on vacation. It’s only the serious shooters who
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set an alarm and wake up to photograph dawn or sunrise . . . or would-be crowded places devoid of people. The Bean in Chicago, for example, always has crowds around it except at 5:30 in the morning. Then there is virtually no one. Inclement weather is also a good indicator that you’ll be able avoid crowds. The rare snowfall in Venice, Italy, above, shows San Marco Square without a single soul to ruin my picture. §
