Remove Modern Elements from Landscape Photos

When photographing landscapes, historic sites, or ruins, modern elements such as people, cars, signs, or trash can distract from the scene you want to capture. Fortunately, with careful preparation and editing, you can create images that look timeless. Here's how to get started - even if you have no prior experience with photo editing.

Preparation

The key to successfully removing modern elements starts at the moment of taking the photograph.

Take multiple shots: If there are people moving through your scene, take several photos in quick succession. This is especially useful in busy tourist locations.
Use a tripod: Keeping your camera steady ensures all your shots align perfectly, which is important if you want to combine images later.
Frame carefully: Try to anticipate where modern objects might appear and compose your shot to minimize their impact.

Taking multiple images gives you more options to ‘stack' them later and remove moving objects without leaving gaps in the background.

Editing Methods Using Free Tools

Even without paid software like Photoshop, you can remove modern elements from your images using free downloads or online tools. Here are some beginner-friendly methods:

1. Photo stacking (for moving people)

Tool: GIMP (free downloadable software)
How it works: Import your multiple shots as layers. Use the ‘Layer Mask' tool to selectively reveal parts of the background while hiding moving people.
Tip: Only reveal the parts of each layer where the scene is clean, effectively replacing the areas with moving people with a clear background from another photo.

2. Clone and heal tools (for static objects)

Tools: GIMP , Photopea (free online editor)
Clone tool: Lets you copy one part of your photo over another. Useful for covering signs, trash, or poles.
Healing tool: Automatically blends the copied area to match the surrounding colors and texture. Perfect for filling gaps after removing unwanted elements.

Example workflow in Photopea:

Open your photo.
Select the Clone or Heal tool.
Alt-click (or equivalent) on an area you want to copy.
Brush over the element you want to remove.
Repeat as needed, zooming in for detailed areas.

3. Content-aware removal (AI-assisted)

Tools: Cleanup.pictures (free online), Inpaint Online
How it works: You highlight the object, and the tool automatically fills in the area based on the surrounding scene. This is faster than manual cloning and works surprisingly well for beginners.

Tips for a Natural Result

Work gradually: Remove objects in small areas rather than trying to do everything at once.
Zoom in: Details matter, especially on textures like rocks, grass, or old walls.
Compare with the original: Check for repeated patterns or unnatural patches that can give away editing.
Keep backups: Always save the original photo in case you want to start over.

Here's one of my photographs of the Castlerigg Stone Circle, minus the 30 or so other tourists who were milling around, and ‘cleaned’ using the photo stacking method.

Editing out modern elements in landscapes

Preparation

Editing Methods Using Free Tools

1. Photo stacking (for moving people)

2. Clone and heal tools (for static objects)

3. Content-aware removal (AI-assisted)

Tips for a Natural Result

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