Photography Is Not a Competition

Photography has a habit of changing quietly over time. What often begins as something personal can slowly turn into something measured. Not because anyone sets out to make it that way, but because comparison becomes normalised. Who is seen more. Who appears to be progressing faster. Who is doing it “right”.

That shift matters. It changes how we make decisions in the field. Attention moves away from what drew us to a scene and toward what might perform well. Confidence becomes conditional. Enjoyment starts to depend on response rather than experience.

Photography was never intended to function like that.

Watch here

In this video, I talk about why photography isn’t a competition, how comparison influences the way we shoot without us always realising it, and why genuine progress in landscape photography happens far more slowly than most people expect. It comes through attention, repetition, time in the field, and learning to trust your own decisions.

This episode marks the first instalment in Volume 3 of Essential Landscape Photography Skills. This new volume steps away from technical instruction and focuses instead on mindset, intent, and long-term development as a photographer.

You can also watch Volumes 1 and 2, which focus on core skills, field technique, and building a solid foundation in landscape photography. Both volumes are supported by accompanying ebooks. The books are free for newsletter subscribers, or available for €4.99 if you’d like to support my work.

If you’ve ever felt pressure to keep up with others, questioned your work because of what you’ve seen online, or found photography becoming heavier than it needs to be, this episode will resonate.