Shutter Nonsense: A Nature Photography Podcast

In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey talk about one of the trickier decisions in landscape and nature photography - knowing when to keep working a scene and when it is time to move on.
Sometimes staying longer helps you find stronger compositions, better light, and quieter details you would have missed at first glance. But sometimes you are not really working the scene anymore, you are just standing there pressing the shutter over and over because you feel like you should be doing something.
We talk through the difference between patience and getting stuck, the temptation to keep photographing the same frame, how a second camera body can help you keep exploring, and the FOMO that comes with wondering if the best light is about to happen right after you leave. We also share a few stories from Death Valley, Lost Dutchman, Colorado, the Grand Canyon, and other photography outings where the decision to stay or move on shaped the images we came home with.Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members.   https://www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights:
The difference between working a scene and repeatedly pressing the shutter
Why the “obvious shot” is often just the starting point
How staying longer can reveal smaller details and better compositions
The role of patience when waiting for light or changing conditions
Why dynamic light makes the decision to move on so difficult
How a second camera body can help you keep exploring
Photographing alone versus working around other photographers
The regret of leaving too early or not refining a composition enough
Related Links:Jeffrey’s Trail Ready Guide: https://jeffreytadlock.com/ebook-store/p/trail-ready-ebookLost Dutchman State Park: https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchmanPhotoPack Pro App: https://www.photopackpro.com Johnny Carson: https://www.youtube.com/user/johnnycarsonFoqos App: https://www.foqos.app/Matt Payne: https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/ Richard Bernabe: https://beyondthelens.fm/Cameron in Ferris Bueller: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XC1fGYWLCEMichael’s Wildfire Blog Post: https://www.michaelrungphotography.com/post/the-power-of-regret
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.comLearn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey dig into the idea of growth through limitation in nature photography. What happens when you intentionally narrow your options instead of keeping every possibility open?
They talk about one-lens outings, local shooting, black and white challenges, slowing down in the field, and how removing certain choices can actually help you see more clearly. The conversation also gets into the difference between a constraint that helps you grow and one that just leaves you frustrated.
If you have ever felt stuck, burned out, or too dependent on your usual habits in the field, this one may give you a few ideas to shake things up.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
 
Episode Highlights
How a one-lens outing can help you learn to truly see in a new focal length
Why local photography can become a powerful tool for growth instead of feeling limiting
The difference between a helpful challenge and a frustrating restriction
Thoughts on trying black and white only for 30 days as a way to train your eye
How reducing gear and decisions can help break creative ruts and burnout
Why slowing down in the field can improve both composition and intention
Michael’s story of avoiding sunrise and sunset photography to force a different way of seeing
How to choose challenges that push your photography without ruining the experience
Related Links:
Moterra Vans: https://alnk.to/1N5B0k5
Thomas Heaton: https://www.youtube.com/@ThomasHeatonPhoto 
Gavin Hardcastle (Fototripper): https://www.youtube.com/fototripper 
Alan Ross: https://www.alanrossphotography.com/ 
Ephemeral / Permanence: https://www.michaelrungphotography.com/product-page/ephemeral-permanence 
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.com
Learn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In Episode 25 of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey are joined by Cole Thompson and John Barclay to talk about color versus monochrome photography, and how to know when each one makes sense. The conversation goes way beyond editing choices and gets into vision, intention, creativity, and why black and white can be either a distraction-free tool or a deeply personal way of seeing.
Along the way, they talk about learning to see in black and white, how personal vision shapes the work we make, the difference between photographing for likes versus photographing for meaning, and why this choice often goes much deeper than simple aesthetics. There’s plenty of humor in this one too, which is probably exactly what you’d expect when these four get together.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights:
Cole explains why black and white is not a style choice for him, but simply how he sees the world
John talks about using both color and monochrome, and how he decides which serves the image best
Michael and Jeffrey reflect on using black and white as a beginner “save” versus making a deliberate creative choice
The group discusses whether color or black and white is actually harder to do well
A conversation on vision, imitation, and finding your own voice as a photographer
Why color can sometimes overpower a photograph instead of helping it
The role age, experience, and older darkroom exposure may play in how photographers connect with black and white
A bigger conversation about social media, likes, and making work that feels personal and meaningful
Related Links:
John Barclay: https://johnbarclayphotography.com/
Cole Thompson: https://colethompsonphotography.com/
The Cole & John Photography Show: https://www.youtube.com/@thecoleandjohnshow7236
Rick Rubin’s The Creative Act: https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/717356/the-creative-act-by-rick-rubin/
Sarah Marino: https://www.smallscenes.com/
Matt Payne: https://www.mattpaynephotography.com/
Murray Livingston: https://www.murraylivingston.com/
Jack Curran: https://jackcurranphotography.store/
Joshua Cripps: https://www.joshuacripps.com/
Mitch Dobrowner: http://mitchdobrowner.com/
Chuck Kimmerle: https://www.chuckkimmerle.com/
Michael Kenna: https://www.michaelkenna.com/
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.comLearn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey talk about nature photography hit rate, keeper rate, and whether taking fewer photos actually means you are becoming a better landscape photographer.
They dig into the difference between intentional landscape photography and the old spray and pray approach, how culling photos after a trip can shape your view of success, and why a low hit rate is not always a bad thing. If you have ever wondered how many photos you should come home with, how many should be keepers, or whether your process in the field is actually helping you grow, this one is for you.
This episode also gets into creative experimentation, slowing down in the field, using your phone to test compositions, revisiting old files, and why comparing your photography process to someone else usually is not very helpful.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights
What photography hit rate really means
Whether a higher keeper rate actually matters
The difference between intentional shooting and spray and pray
Why experimentation can lower your hit rate for good reasons
How Michael and Jeffrey think about culling after a trip
Why revisiting old images can change what counts as a keeper
Why your photography process has to work for you
Related Links:
Michael’s Lightroom Classic Start-to-Finish Walkthrough: https://www.patreon.com/posts/145865590
Linda Nickell’s Happiness Hour: https://www.youtube.com/@LindaNickellHappinessHour
Gavin Hardcastle (Fototripper): https://www.youtube.com/fototripper
Lost Dutchman State Park: https://azstateparks.com/lost-dutchman
Michael’s Lightroom Compare Photos Demo: https://www.patreon.com/posts/125609814
Landscape Photographers Worldwide: https://discord.gg/GxE7HWc9
PhotoPack Pro: https://www.photopackpro.com 
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.comLearn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, we dig into minimalism vs maximalism in landscape photography and talk through what those ideas actually mean in practice.
We start by catching up on the usual behind-the-scenes chaos: preparing for the long drive from Ohio to Death Valley for an upcoming workshop, building landing pages for holiday promotions, launching a new iPhone photo app, and squeezing in a last-minute presentation for Angel McNeese’s 2025 landscape photography summit.
From there, we get into the main topic and explore the difference between minimalist and maximalist photography, why “small scenes” are not automatically minimalist, and how the places you shoot can heavily influence the way you see and compose images. We also talk about reducing visual confusion, managing visual weight, why minimalist images are often harder to pull off than they look, and how editing can either strengthen or completely undo a simple composition.
We also get into the role social media plays in what photographers choose to share, and how that can shape perceptions of style more than we might realize.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights Include:
Defining minimalist vs maximalist landscape photography
Why small scenes are not automatically minimalist
How your environment can influence your natural shooting style
The challenge of simplifying chaotic scenes into stronger compositions
Using visual weight to create balance and clarity in an image
Why minimalist photography is often harder than it first appears
The difference between an image feeling empty versus intentionally minimal
How editing and processing can strengthen or weaken minimalist photographs
Social Media Influence
Related Links:
PhotoPack Pro App
John Barclay and Cole Thompson YouTube Channel
Jennifer Renwick
Sarah Marino
Anna Morgan
Eric Bennett
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.com
Learn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In Episode 22 of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey dig into one of the least glamorous but most important parts of landscape photography: planning and scouting. From pre-trip research to in-field decision-making, this episode is all about finding the balance between being prepared and staying creatively flexible.
The conversation pulls from real experiences photographing in Utah, Colorado, and the Great Smoky Mountains, and explores how planning changes depending on whether you are visiting a new location or returning to a familiar one. Along the way, they talk about using weather as a creative tool, managing expectations, avoiding preconceived shots, and why scouting does not stop once you arrive.
If you have ever overplanned a trip, underplanned a trip, or shown up with great intentions only to be humbled by conditions, this one is for you.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights
Why planning matters, but rigid plans can hold your photography back
How pre-trip research differs for new locations versus familiar places
Using weather, seasons, and conditions to guide creative decisions
Managing expectations and setting realistic goals for a trip
The role of scouting before and during a photography outing
Avoiding preconceived images and staying open to what the landscape gives you
Balancing preparation with spontaneity to stay creatively engaged
Related Links:
Michael’s Amazon guidebook list: https://www.amazon.com/shop/michaelrungphotography/list/2EDPL69ILQ1K7?ref_=aipsflist
Cole Thompson's article on photo celibacy: https://colethompsonphotography.com/2018/03/22/photographic-celibacy-thoughts-ten-years-later/ 
 
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.comLearn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In this most recent episode of Shutter Nonsense, hosts Michael and Jeffrey sit down with special guest, landscape photographer Ben Horne, for a thoughtful conversation about how the way we see our own photographs changes over time. What starts as excitement or disappointment in the moment often shifts months or years later, sometimes in ways we never expect.
Ben shares stories from a recent trip to Zion, walks through his film and large-format workflow, and reflects on what it’s like to revisit older work with fresh eyes. Together, they talk openly about creative doubt, the tension between technical perfection and emotional impact, and why some images only reveal their value long after they were made. This episode is an honest discussion about growth, patience, and learning to trust the photographic process.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights
How photographers’ perceptions of their own work evolve over time
Revisiting older images and seeing them differently years later
Creative doubt and its role in long-term growth
Balancing technical perfection with emotional impact
Film photography, large format workflow, and slowing down
Why some images take time to reveal their value
Related Links
Ben Horne’s Website:  https://www.benhorne.com/
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.com
Learn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

Is photography better kept as a passion, or does turning it into a business change the relationship entirely?
In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, Michael and Jeffrey dig into the real-world tradeoffs between photography as a hobby and photography as a source of income. The discussion explores what monetization actually looks like for landscape photographers, why prints and education tend to be the most common paths, and how financial pressure can quietly influence creativity, subject choice, and long-term enjoyment of the craft.
The episode also looks beyond gear and images to the less visible side of the business: financial readiness, safety nets, diversification of income, and the mental and emotional weight of being “always on.” Whether photography is something you love on the weekends or something you are trying to build into a career, this episode offers an honest framework for thinking through the decision with intention.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights
Hobby vs business: what it really means to monetize photography
Common income paths for landscape photographers, including prints and education
Why portraits and events often become the first step into paid photography
The reality of saturation and competition in nature photography
The hidden workload behind monetization and being constantly “on”
Financial readiness beyond gear: savings, insurance, and unexpected expenses
Why timing matters when considering full-time photography
How monetization can influence creativity and subject choice
Balancing personal passion with work that is more marketable
When paid photography starts to pull energy away from what you love
How teaching and selling work can deepen connection with an audience
The importance of diversified income streams for long-term stability
 
Relevant Links:
https://www.michaelrungphotography.com/post/struggling 
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.com
Learn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com

In Episode 19 of Shutter Nonsense, hosts Michael and Jeffrey dig into how photography trips shape us far beyond the images we bring home. Travel can spark creativity and excitement, but it also introduces uncertainty, pressure, and the challenge of balancing expectations with reality.
We talk about what happens when you photograph unfamiliar places, how travel can help reconnect you with your original motivation for picking up a camera, and why growth often comes from being uncomfortable. Along the way, we share personal travel stories, discuss planning versus spontaneity, explore solo versus group travel dynamics, and reflect on how revisiting familiar locations compares to chasing something new.
This episode is less about destinations and more about intention, awareness, and the long-term impact photography trips can have on your creative life. Whether you travel often or only occasionally, this conversation is about making those trips more meaningful.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights:
Why photography trips often change how we think about photography, not just what we photograph
The creative benefits and mental challenges of working in unfamiliar locations
How travel can help reconnect you with your original motivation for picking up a camera
Planning versus spontaneity, and why both matter on photography-focused trips
Solo travel compared to group trips, and how each shapes the experience differently
Balancing photography goals with simply being present while traveling
The role of repeat visits versus constantly chasing new destinations
How deeper connections to places can influence conservation awareness and advocacy
Practical advice for photographers planning their first trip centered around photography
Relevant Links:
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.com
Learn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com
 

In this episode of Shutter Nonsense, hosts Michael and Jeffrey explore the often-overlooked power of local photography and why shooting close to home can make you a stronger, more fulfilled nature photographer.
Traveling for your nature photography is inspiring and iconic, but local landscapes offer something just as valuable: repetition, familiarity, and the chance to truly learn a place. We talk about how photographing nearby locations can sharpen your skills, deepen your connection to the land, and help you stay creatively energized without constantly chasing new destinations.
We also dig into the realities of balancing local and travel photography, how to work through location fatigue, and why your audience often connects just as much with meaningful local work as they do with bucket-list locations.
This episode is part practical advice, part creative mindset, and part honest reflection on what keeps photography enjoyable long-term.
Join the Shutter Nonsense Patreon community to participate in post-episode conversations and share your own photography experiences! Available to free and paid members. www.patreon.com/ShutterNonsense
Highlights Include:
Why local photography is one of the best ways to improve technical skills
How familiarity with a place leads to stronger compositions and better timing
The mental and creative benefits of shooting close to home
Scouting and building fitness without always bringing a camera
Planning vs spontaneity when working locally
How to avoid burnout and location fatigue
Balancing local projects with travel photography
Audience reactions to iconic travel shots vs meaningful local images
 
Relevant Links:
Michael’s App: https://www.photopackpro.com
2026 Workshops: https://www.michaelrungphotography.com/landscape-photography-workshops 
Learn more about Michael's photography: www.michaelrung.comLearn more about Jeffrey's photography: www.jeffreytadlock.com