Shoot a sunset or landscape and unless unusual for some reason or the other, you compete with every other similar shot out there.

This is indeed a fact of life....

So, give me a ticket. Give me the way..then I will wow a few folks with photos from that exotic location I will likely never have opportunity to visit otherwise.    I wish we all could have such a chance and opportunity.

I agree, but there is one little problem, If we all had the opportunity as you wish, then we would all return back to the original problem....

Shoot a sunset or landscape and unless unusual for some reason or the other, you compete with every other similar shot out there.

I guess this sounds rather cold, but I personally believe that technique and style will always give the best results.
To me, any location anywhere in the universe would only be a wow! if it was an original scene the viewer had never seen before, and this is because of what it is and has nothing to do with the artistry of the photographer.....with some scenes, it would really be hard to take a bad shot.

Personally I would like to concentrate on originality on scenes that are not original.
Go out on a dull day into a boring town and I believe any half decent photographer could capture imagination if they face the right direction.

I'd love to go to other places in the world too, don't get me wrong, Tibet has always inspired me with it's strong contrast of colours against a dusty terrain.... but if I wish too much on photographing a place that I have no idea if i'll ever be able to afford to go to, i'll never find inspiration in the places I can afford to reach.