Photo Spot

I was lining up for a shot looking east along 33rd Street.  I was noticing the long angles of the Post Office with Madison Square Garden and the Empire State building in the rear.  A passerby commented, "you can get a better shot if you go up to the entry bridge ahead, from there the lamp post is not in the way.... I know because I live here".  

I thanked him (I don't generally react well to people telling me what to shoot but he had good intentions).  I took my original shot (top one below), and then went to examine the location he pointed to.  

I had mixed thoughts.  The spot was better from a classic post card perspective.  It was more compositionally correct, and was the perfect location to capture all the key components of the shot (and the lamp post wasn't blocking the Empire State).  But, it seemed to me that it was sort of like a "Photo Spot" sign at Disney World.  Did I want the same picture as a million tourists (and he obviously thought I was a tourist).  In almost all cases, I would say no, at least in my own home town, (although as a tourist at other places, a beautiful common shot would be OK).  

In the end, I prefer my shot anyway, even with the lamp post, because it allowed the sidewalk activity to be included.  

 Post Office with LampPost Office without Lamp