10 Opinionated Landscape Photography Opinions

After spending an unreasonable number of hours polishing the turd that is my website in an attempt to generate a steady audience, I’m finally ready to admit defeat and resort to a ‘10 things’ blog – a shameless tactic to provoke debate and draw attention to myself.

I feel exactly as dirty as I should.

Self-awareness aside, I should clarify: these opinions are entirely my own, aimed at no one in particular, and not intended to elevate myself or make anyone feel bad. At the end of the day, Clive, what does it really matter?

Caveats out of the way—here we go.

1. There is no good tripod for photography

Tripods are a scam. Fragile, overpriced, and held together with what I can only assume is spider silk. The marketing departments at Big Tripod will tell you they’re “robust” and “built to last” but give them six months and they’re wobbling like a politician’s alibi. Then there’s the naming. Either a string of meaningless numbers or, worse, human names; as if calling it “Steve” will make me love it.

And the cost!  How is a glorified stick worth hundreds, sometimes thousands, of pounds?

I refuse to believe they’re not all made in the same factory and rebranded. My evidence? I’ve owned eight. All terrible.

Don’t even get me started on the ball head vs geared head racket.

2. Photographers need to get over Aperture and ISO

If I see one more comment from some photo nerd saying you can’t shoot above f11 or that you can only get useable images at ISO 100 I’m going to do nothing at all, but I will shake my head and think of some passive aggressive comment that I’m too cowardly to say out loud.

Maybe once upon a time there may have been some semblance of reason behind such statements but with current technology, and having accidentally shot at f22 for several sessions over the years, I’d challenge such views now (silently and passive aggressively as previously suggested).

And I’ll tell you this, in my woodland photography I can’t remember the last time I really shot below ISO 400. Similar to my views on tripods, I don’t like my leaves wobbly.

Shot at F22 because 'idiot didn't check settings'

3. Night photography – landscape photography, but boring

This one might cause a bit of a stir if I was to announce it in a seedy back street camera club, but I stand by it. I have zero interest in night photography.

I move constantly, change compositions obsessively, and shoot a lot. Night photography demands patience, technical precision, and leaving your camera alone for extended periods, none of which align with how I work (or with my structurally unsound tripods).

Then there’s the processing. Stacking, stitching, waiting hours for your computer, heating your laptop fans to a shell suit melting temperature, just to render something that ultimately looks worse than a single frame taken in decent light at a civilised hour.

And yes, this includes the Northern Lights. And the moon.

Cool to see - meh to photograph

4. Sharing AI generated images as your own is insane

I’ll sidestep the environmental, legal, and geopolitical concerns and keep this simple.

If I microwave a ready meal, I didn’t cook dinner.

If I hire a decorator, I didn’t paint the room.

If I vomit Easter eggs onto the floor and it resembles the Mona Lisa, I’m not a Renaissance artist.

So why are people posting AI-generated images and presenting them as their photography?

Even when based on their own compositions, the end result is often a smudged, synthetic mess that prompt conversations such as “incredible light 😍””thanks hun”, when in fact the response should be "thanks hun, but no need to comment, I did absolutely nothing other than type a prompt to an algorithm that harvested millions of copyright infringed or stolen images from actual photographers for a cheap and meaningless dopamine hit" - It’s equal parts baffling and depressing.

5. Photography reels… meh

To clarify, my meh is directed towards the social media platforms and algorithms that elevate the sharing of reels over genuine photography, rather than the people who create them.

Why would I want to watch a shaky phone clip with tinny, generic music instead of looking at the photograph itself?

As a “here’s where I am” story post —fine. Beyond that—meh.

6. Sunrise photography is better than sunset photography

Simple. After sunrise, you keep shooting. After sunset, it’s dark—and suddenly you’re back in the night photography problem.

7. You take a photograph, you don’t 'make' one

Here’s my crib sheet to help you remember;

You make something when you shape a material to create a piece of art – eg the blind girl used clay to make a sculpture of Lionel Ritchies head.

You paint something when you apply colour or pigment to a surface– eg the boy vomited easter egg to paint a perfect replica of the Mona Lisa.

You take a landscape photograph.

Unless you possess the powers of a deity or own a JCB, it’s always ‘take’.

8. No composition needs more than 30 seconds of explanation on YouTube

If it takes longer than that, you’ve lost me. Use a reel.

9. Photography forums are unhinged

Camera forums, wildlife groups, editing software communities—take your pick. They are hotbeds of needless confrontation, and levels of pedantry that would make a Puritan blush. My one rule: never engage. There are no winners.

10. Do photographers really need a website?

Unless you’re a professional, I genuinely don’t see the point. Despite what Squarespace would have you believe with their endless marketing campaigns, not everyone needs a website. Financially, mine has been a disaster. The only justification I have is that I’m an egotist who loves the smell of my own farts. What’s worse, in an attempt to keep it relevant you end up having to write ’10 things’ blogs – the humanity.

Mmm - what's that smell..?

And there it is. No conclusion, no deeper meaning—just content for the sake of content. While you’re here, you could look at some photos on my website. Yes, do that!  

Or not.