{"id":465148,"date":"2026-05-02T15:24:17","date_gmt":"2026-05-02T15:24:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/465148\/"},"modified":"2026-05-02T15:24:17","modified_gmt":"2026-05-02T15:24:17","slug":"sunsets-are-bad-for-your-landscape-photography","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/465148\/","title":{"rendered":"Sunsets Are Bad for Your Landscape Photography"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><img data-perfmatters-preload=\"\" fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Milford-Sound-Beech-Tree-Fiordland-Forest-Canopy-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Dense, lush green forest with tall trees and thick branches covered in moss, creating a vibrant, natural canopy with sunlight filtering through the leaves.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852582\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Now, my not-so-piping-hot take is more nuanced, but I still stand by that statement in the title. Because while stunning skies are what drew me to landscape photography, they\u2019ve also held back my development and growth.<\/p>\n<p>In fact, by excluding the sky from your frames altogether, you\u2019ll capture stronger, more meaningful compositions. So let\u2019s dive in.<\/p>\n<p> The Allure of Sunrises and Sunsets <\/p>\n<p>Growing up on the South Coast of NSW, I was drawn to landscape photography by big, bold skies over world-class seascapes, like Bombo Quarry and Cathedral Rocks.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Bombo-Headland-Quarry-Basalt-Rocks-Kiama-Sunrise-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Sunlight streams through a narrow gap between tall, dark rock cliffs, illuminating jagged boulders and casting a golden glow on the rocky terrain below.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852575\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d wake early to witness glorious sunrises igniting over the ocean. And I\u2019d stay out late to see sunsets cast a golden glow over the mountains. I chased these carnivals of light. Restlessly.<\/p>\n<p>I\u2019d track the angle of the sun throughout the year. I\u2019d forecast cloud cover through the week. I\u2019d return to the same vantage point morning after morning.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Cathedral-Rocks-Sunrise-Kiama-South-Coast-NSW-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Rocky coastal landscape at sunrise, with waves crashing against dark rocks and tall sea stacks under a colorful sky with pink and orange clouds.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852576\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>All to capture a bigger, bolder, sunrise than yesterday.<\/p>\n<p>And in the early days of Instagram, I\u2019d share these light shows with the world. The feedback loop of likes, reposts and fire emojis rewarded and reinforced this. So I\u2019d seek out more epic skies, more spectacular storm clouds.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Kiama-Wave-Surf-NSW-South-Coast-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"A large ocean wave curls and crashes, illuminated by golden sunlight reflecting off the water\u2019s surface in the background.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852580\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>In those early years, I became hyperfocussed on stunning skies. The land, at best, was a secondary consideration. At worst? I\u2019d turn the land into a silhouette \u2014 or I\u2019d exclude it altogether.<\/p>\n<p> The Curse of Colorful Skies <\/p>\n<p>Since then, I\u2019m pleased to report, I expanded my definition of landscape photography beyond \u2018banger sunset\u2019.<\/p>\n<p>As I grew as a photographer, I didn\u2019t just grow more appreciative of curious landforms and more subtle scenes. I become actively wary of colourful skies for three reasons:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>They\u2019re <\/b><b>too brilliant<\/b><b>.<\/b> Striking sunsets risk dominating your entire scene. They scream for the viewer\u2019s attention. They carry so much visual weight that they distract and detract from the landscape you\u2019re trying to showcase.<\/li>\n<li><b>They\u2019re generic.<\/b> Colourful clouds are interchangeable. Excluding freak formations, any sky in California or Kazakhstan could be found over Cradle Mountain here in Australia.<\/li>\n<li><b>They\u2019re easy.<\/b> Yes, being on the ground when a sky explodes can take many hours of research and effort. But building your composition around a bold sky in the top third of your image? That\u2019s the lowest-hanging fruit when it comes to framing a landscape scene.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>These all might seem like first-world problems; The classic Simpsons meme \u201cold man yells at cloud\u201d seems apt here. So let me be clear: Colorful sunsets are worthy rewards of planning and commitment to the craft.<\/p>\n<p>As someone who\u2019s returned to the same seastacks at Cathedral Rocks many dozen times over, I still champion the virtues of chasing ideal conditions as much as anyone.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Big-Drift-Wilsons-Prom-Sand-Dunes-800x534.jpg\" alt=\"Curving sand dunes cast soft shadows in the sunlight. The surface of the sand is textured with fine, wavy patterns caused by the wind. The light and shadow highlight the smooth contours of the landscape.\" width=\"800\" height=\"534\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852574\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Landscape photographers should pursue brilliant light shows to showcase scenes in the best light. But that pursuit should not come at the expense of your artistic potential.<\/p>\n<p>The cost (that I know all too well) is that by fixating on (or hoping for) certain elements to align, you risk overlooking other \u2013 just as impressive and likely more meaningful \u2013 ones that already exist.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/MacKenzie-Falls-The-Grampians-Victoria-Waterfall-Long-Exposure-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A close-up view of a cascading waterfall flowing over dark, rugged rocks, captured with a long exposure to create a smooth, misty effect on the water.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852581\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>Brilliance can be blinding. And landscape photography is so much more than waiting for the clouds to explode with colour.<\/p>\n<p> When the Sky Isn\u2019t the Limit <\/p>\n<p>By not fixating on sunsets, you remove preconceived ideas that anchor your creativity. You begin to notice and appreciate the smaller scenes around you.<\/p>\n<p>Since I\u2019ve opened my awareness to landscapes as they are, I can better consider the essence of an environment and capture its defining details in a fresh light.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Fiordland-Beech-Tree-Milford-Sound-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"A large, moss-covered tree with sprawling branches stands in front of a mountain backdrop, with sunlight filtering through its green leaves.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852579\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>For me, that\u2019s one of our core callings as artists: To shine a spotlight on ideas that others may have overlooked or taken for granted.<\/p>\n<p>Photographing beyond golden hour has enriched my photography and expression in several ways:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><b>Making more considered compositions:<\/b> I\u2019ve stopped letting colourful skies dictate and direct my images. Now, skyless scenes continue to form some of my most striking and strongest compositions.<\/li>\n<li><b>Photographing a wider range of light:<\/b> The most vibrant clouds can occur 20 minutes before sunrise \u2013 but this \u2018peak colour\u2019 often leaves the landscape dull and formless. Now I\u2019m just as eager to photograph a range of daytime scenes in shade, backlight or diffused overcast light.<\/li>\n<li><b>Making more personal images:<\/b> By framing smaller scenes, I\u2019ve made images that are more representative of my experience. They\u2019re what I noticed on the day and what I recall fondly in my memory years later.<\/li>\n<li><b>Highlighting forms in the landscape:<\/b> When a sky no longer steals the show, I can more effectively spotlight forms, textures and features in the environment. These subtler details are often more visually interesting than generic golden vistas.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p> Putting the Land Back in Landscapes <\/p>\n<p>I\u2019m still mesmerized by marvelous light shows, so this is far from a call for you to reject sunsets altogether.<\/p>\n<p>But my photography journey \u2014 from chasing skies to slowing down for smaller scenes \u2014 has freed me from narrow views that limited my creativity. It\u2019s led me to experience nature with more presence and to compose scenes with more consideration (both grand and intimate).<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Wanaka-Mount-Aspiring-Haast-Pass-Canyon-River-Chasm-533x800.jpg\" alt=\"A tranquil blue river flows through a steep, narrow gorge with moss-covered rocky walls, bathed in soft, natural light from above.\" width=\"533\" height=\"800\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852585\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>If you can relate, I urge you to enter landscapes with fewer pre-formed expectations. To challenge yourself beyond golden hour. To exclude the sky entirely from your frame. To choose balanced over bold.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Picnic-Point-Beach-Rocks-Honeycomb-NSW-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Close-up view of water droplets scattered on a smooth blue surface, with droplets varying in size and shape, creating a textured and reflective appearance.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852583\"  \/><\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Sapphire-Coast-Cave-Rocks-Coast-NSW-800x533.jpg\" alt=\"Rock formation with textured, layered surfaces in shades of blue and gray, streaked with reddish and pinkish veins. A small dark cave-like opening is visible at the base, surrounded by loose rocks and gravel.\" width=\"800\" height=\"533\" class=\"aligncenter size-large wp-image-852584\"  \/><\/p>\n<p>By moving beyond sunsets, your photography can become a richer expression of your potential as an artist. And your images will be a more meaningful representation of landscapes as they are \u2013 not just momentary light shows.<\/p>\n<p>Or not. I\u2019ll still be here yelling at clouds.<\/p>\n<p><b>About the author:<\/b> Mitch Green is an Australian landscape and nature photographer. He can be found via <a href=\"https:\/\/mitchgreenphotos.com\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">his website<\/a>, on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/mitchgreenphotos\/\" data-wpel-link=\"external\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"follow external noopener nofollow\">Instagram<\/a> or wandering through the wilds of Tasmania. The opinions expressed here are solely those of the author.<\/p>\n<p>      <script async src=\"\/\/www.instagram.com\/embed.js\"><\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Now, my not-so-piping-hot take is more nuanced, but I still stand by that statement in the title. Because&hellip;\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":465149,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","_share_on_mastodon":"0"},"categories":[267],"tags":[365,362,363,364,366,18,117,19,17,374,115756,2336],"class_list":["post-465148","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-artsdesign","tag-design","tag-eire","tag-entertainment","tag-ie","tag-ireland","tag-landscape","tag-landscapephotography","tag-opinion"],"share_on_mastodon":{"url":"https:\/\/pubeurope.com\/@ie\/116505678278939605","error":""},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465148","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=465148"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/465148\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/465149"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=465148"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=465148"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/ie\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=465148"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}