Embrace the Unexpected: A Key Landscape Photography Lesson
Introduction
As I write this, it’s been exactly one week since I returned home after my mitral valve repair surgery.
During the last month, I didn’t have much time to write or focus on anything else, as I was fully committed to getting out of the clinic as quickly and as strong as possible.
The best part, though, is that I’ve been having a great time editing photos from my recent trip to the Dolomites. Plus, I’m working on new videos for my YouTube channel.
So now you know why I’ve been a bit quiet online this past month!
Today, I want to chat about something that, more than anything else, really helps propel our photography forward—at least, it works for me.
1. Embrace the Unexpected!
Or, even better: Set your expectations, but don’t be bound by them.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of setting high expectations for a photo session. I see it all the time during my workshops, and I’ve been guilty of it myself in the past. We tend to envision a perfect shot, with ideal light and weather conditions, but the truth is—those are things we can't control.
In fact, that’s part of the magic of photography.
Take the following image, for example. It’s one of my favorites from this autumn’s trip and it was taken on one of those days when things didn’t go as planned (and, honestly, I’m glad they didn’t).
Cadini di Misurina - Dolomites // Oct 2nd
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 50-140mm
Typically, my workshops are planned around the golden hours of sunrise and sunset, when the light is often at its “best” for landscape photography. While this is generally a good strategy, I’ve learned that it’s not always the whole picture.
This year, our autumn trip to the Dolomites was one for the books—mainly because the weather was incredibly unpredictable and, at times, downright challenging. We didn’t get much of the warm, golden light we’re used to at sunrise or sunset. In fact, we had to adjust on the fly, rescheduling many of our sessions for early mornings and mid-afternoons, making the most of every location, even when conditions weren’t ideal.
So, why am I sharing this with you?
Because it’s important to remember that there’s only so much we can control. We can plan our gear, choose our shooting locations, and frame our compositions, but the weather is beyond our control.
As photographers, we must be ready to embrace the unexpected. It’s often in those unpredictable moments that we capture the most authentic, compelling images. And that’s what makes landscape photography truly rewarding.
In these situations, local knowledge plays a crucial role, but simply being out in the field—even if the timing wasn’t during the universally recognized “best time for the best light”—allowed us to create truly unique and dramatic images that portray the Dolomites in a way that speaks more to the rugged wilderness and magnificence of those mysterious jagged peaks.
It was around 4 p.m. when I took the shot, far from the typical golden hour light. But what followed was one of the most memorable sessions of the trip.
The group and I spent nearly three hours experimenting with countless compositions, letting our creativity be guided by the ever-changing landscape, constantly reshaped by the moving clouds. We captured several gigabytes of atmospheric, mood-filled shots—each one vastly different from the "classic" Tre Cime di Lavaredo views.
It was truly rewarding to reflect with the group on what we captured during those challenging sessions.
We were amazed at how many unique compositions we were able to create by letting go of preconceived expectations and embracing the spontaneous opportunities that arose in the moment.
To put my belief simply, my advice is to let go of getting too attached to a specific outcome.
Instead, focus on what you can do today to improve your skills as a photographer and really make the most of each scene.
Learning to accept things as they are, rather than how you think they should be, can be incredibly powerful—and sometimes really inspiring.
2. Photography as a Game
I love to say that I enjoy when photo sessions feel like a video game.
Just like in a video game, when you quickly learn that the real fun begins when you start experimenting, adapting, and thinking on your feet, photography can be the same.
Each shot is like a level, and every new challenge, like shifting weather, changing light, or even unplanned elements entering your frame, is an opportunity to unlock a new skill or technique. You try different angles, adjust settings, and respond to what’s happening around you, just like a gamer facing new obstacles or discovering hidden features.
The more you play with your surroundings and the camera, the more you learn and the more rewarding the experience becomes. It’s that sense of exploration and growth that makes photography so exciting and keeps us coming back for more.
The image below is another extreme example. Very extreme!!!
Cadini di Misurina - Dolomites // Oct 5th
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 50-140mm
This shot was taken around 5 p.m. during my second autumn workshop this year.
Can you believe it?
I still can’t wrap my head around the fact that we had this much snow in early October. I can’t even remember the last time I saw a scene like this at this time of year in the Dolomites.
It was absolutely mind-boggling! We had to completely rethink our plans, especially the logistics.
Imagine being in our shoes. How on earth could we have predicted this?
I remember hiking up to that ridge with the group (right where the tiny figure is in the center of the shot), each of us in awe and full of mixed reactions: “This is incredible!”, “What on earth is happening here?”, “What an amazing opportunity for some truly unique shots!”, “This isn’t what we expected to be photographing at all!”, “Did I sign up for an autumn or a winter Dolomites workshop?”.
And, of course, there were a few other outbursts I can’t quite repeat here… let’s just say they were colorful!
I’ll never forget one of the participants telling me, 'Andrea, when I signed up for this workshop, that shot (the one here on the left) you took of someone standing on the ridge at Cadini di Misurina was exactly the kind of image I was dreaming of capturing.'
What we experienced was completely different from what we’d imagined and far beyond our expectations. Snow-covered peaks under dramatic skies, with the jagged peaks of Cadini looking as raw and rugged as ever.
As you can see in the image below, the landscape was absolutely surreal for what should have been a regular autumn day in early October.
What would you do in this situation?
Cadini di Misurina - Dolomites // Oct 5th
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 50-140mm (Panorama - 10 vertical images stitched together)
I totally understand how frustrating it can be. People come to visit these incredible mountains, expecting to photograph a particular kind of landscape, only to find themselves bewildered by something completely different.
It can be disorienting when the scene you imagined doesn’t align with the reality in front of you.
But, ultimately, it’s crucial to embrace the unexpected and see it as an opportunity rather than an obstacle.
Moments like these remind me why I love photographing in the Dolomites. It’s a landscape that constantly keeps you on your toes, always surprising you with something unexpected. And while it’s not what we’d planned, the chance to capture these rare, snow-covered peaks in autumn was beyond what we’d hoped for.
I personally really enjoyed that absolutely crazy experience!
3. Intuition vs Expectations
Cadini di Misurina - Dolomites // Oct 5th
Fujifilm X-T50 + Fujinon 50-140mm
So, I can’t stress enough about the importance of reframing our thinking about challenges and expectations. Instead of viewing difficult experiences as threats, we can learn to see them as opportunities for growth and learning. By adopting a more balanced and accepting mental approach, we can free ourselves from the burden of high expectations and live a more fulfilling and joyful photographic experience.
When it comes to photography, I’ve learned to embrace the idea of ‘following the flow.’ For me, this means staying open and flexible, letting the moment guide me rather than forcing it to fit a plan.
Of course, this doesn’t mean giving up on your creative vision or photographic ambitions—it’s just about finding a balance. Instead of sticking rigidly to one outcome, I try to stay present and let my intuition take the lead.
Some of my best shots have come from being open to the unexpected and letting things unfold naturally, rather than trying to control every detail.
4. What About You?
Let me know in the comments how you approach setting expectations—do you find it helps or hinders your creativity? I'd love to hear your thoughts and any experiences you’ve had with the unexpected in your photography journey.
And if you found this helpful, please forward this article to a friend or fellow photographer who might benefit from it.
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