Is it just me that saw two giants about to kiss in the clouds at 10-55? Beautiful shot.

Interesting, thank you! Also, I love the candid joy you show, very refreshing, I couldn't help myself but to smile with you. Wish you to keep it!

This ist not a camera for you., go with your Sony toy and give the Hassy to me 😂

Interesting topic. I'd like to say that I find your videos in the field inspirational and get motivated to go out and shoot. So please don't let the data stop you from making them. Landscape photography may be slowing in online searches, but I remain hopeful that it will tick back up. There's a lot that influences the data, but unfortunately it's open to interpretation until we gather the data needed to say one way or the other.

Around the 3:10 mark when you are zooming in I notice the picture is out of focus until the zoom stops. Is this common at long ranges and does the Sigma and Sony lenses do the same?

It's interesting that so many people in the comments are saying the same thing about wanting to see more relatable landscape photography, and being over seeing the usual "epic" locations. And while I agree personally, from the point of view of my own channel, that doesn't seem to play out. Get a thumbnail of an "epic" sunrise or location, and it does much better than of my local bushland here in Australia. And getting out at whatever time of day in whatever conditions is what I do, but that doesnt seem to be of widespread interest. At the moment, I'm not really sure what to do with my channel - I've got a lot more videos to come that I took from an amazing holiday last year to the Alps - stunning locations, but not ones I've seen on youtube before. And I sure want to get out more locally. But I'm quite bored with landscape photography videos on KZbin personally, so I dont want mine to be the same...I just can't put my finger on what the issue is. And truth be told, i had some miserable sod tell me a few videos back that mine was the worst landscape photography video he's ever seen. And while from the point of view of myself personally, i dont care less, because some people are just haters, getting that right when I'm confused as to my direction, has added to me feeling deflated about the entire thing. The answer is probably that i just need to get out and take some more photos! 😄

This si amazing to watch. The weather is just like this here today so you have i😆nspired me to go out.

It becomes more and more difficult to find great and nice places to photograph. All places are occupied by people and infrastructure everywhere. Also, I used to make Astrophotography for 5 years but it's been two years now that it is cloudy all the time. There is no more clear nights and it rains all over Europe because of climatic warming. All of that could explain that landscape photography is going down...

The hard truth is that for online viewing (you know, where 99.9% of your work will be viewed), there's no functional difference 99.9% of the time between MF and FF. The ONLY MF quality that comes across online is bokeh and even then it's rare for a MF lens to render more "MF-ily" than a FF 1.2. For all other applications it can be impossible to discern APS-C from MF online. Then you run into all the "gotchas" that MF presents vs much more versatile FF kits and the juice might not be worth the squeeze unless you're a true fine artist printing very large and selling physical media to paying people.

It nice to see a real master's review and not "street photographer" wannabies. Love the shots!

I’ve lost a bit of interest lately due to the huge marketing related videos (new camera launched recently) and the influence that has on me in regard to buying new gear. As I’m trying to avoid GAS as much as possible, I’m skipping all videos were the main subject is the camera or the lens instead of the craft. I started even enjoying and learning more about portrait photography as most videos are more about the craft a not much about gear, etc. I still love landscape photography and will continue doing, but my patience for certain types of video has gone. 😅

Without looking at the comments already - I suspect it might be due to there only being so many lessons one can learn from landscape photography. Camera skills, exposure pyramid (ISO, aperture, shutter speed), and even composition are all skills that can be taught using any form of photography, and which are so much more accessible to people every day without travelling to some remote or unique location. So when it comes to landscape - what new skill are there to learn - which are unique to the format - not a lot.. Maybe locations but even that can be sourced from travel videos.. As for wildlife, it has more action and unique techniques such as tracking wildlife, focusing on moving subjects, and it is much more easier for someone to find a bird, or even a pet, closer to home - maybe even in their own backyard. I think landscape photographers are going to have to find something above and beyond just finding a nice landscape and taking the routine golden hour shot - at very least they are going to need to include some comedy to make us laugh - or keep us entertained whilst chasing that sunset or sunrise image.

I think the viewers are so annoyed by the massive advertising by the platforms and by the creators themselves that there is a migration to other systems. Factual information is better obtained via GPTs... the exchange in a community and the corresponding requests from the creators is usually promotion of viewer loyalty... and therefore more advertising than community. What does a photographer want? Earn money ... ? Then he needs a platform that conveys benefits to the viewer and not advertising. Recognition ...? Then most of the platforms' algorithms are counterproductive... this leads to churn and increasingly aggressive methods from creators and platforms... even more churn. Stop bubbling ... become unique ... be patient according to statistics of YT ...

Excellent video!

I don't know if this is a factor, Mads, but I suspect it is... Google Trends reports on what has been SEARCHED but with the aggressive nature of algorithms these days, how much does one need to search? I watch one video on a new topic, and instantly, KZbin feed is filled with 50 additional suggestions on related topics (or the same topic from other people). As you start watching topics that are of interest, your feed is constantly getting refined with suggestions and it is easy to go down a rabbit hole. So I suspect this is the challenge of just looking at the analytics of the search data. It is rare that I need to search for anything these days in KZbin, other than reviews of equipment new to the market. :)

I dont need high speed, so the A1II would be an overkill for me. I own the A7CR and now waiting for the A7V, as the second body.

Awesome pics. I love being outside on days like that.

I know my thoughts are only those of one person but for one thing, I am bored to death of gear videos and no longer watch them. I have no interest in watching KZbinrs brag about the newest gear they own which is so far from my price range I could never own it. It seems that most KZbin videos are merely advertisements any more, can anyone even say "my camera" without spewing off the model number? KZbin landscape photographers seem to follow each other in their locations. I watch all of them go to the very same locations one after the other, collecting very similar images along the way. One year Iceland is the popular place, the next maybe Svalbard and so on. Because of this trend I no longer watch it all, I pick and choose. My interests have become more varied and I no longer watch all videos by anyone. I'm still into landscape photography but I have no interest in watching most of the people I follow going to the same places over and over. I used to want to go to Iceland but I have changed my mind on that one, I doubt there is an original image to be had there. I don't think those trends have as much to do with the genres of photography as much as they do with the presentation of it on KZbin.

I never use google to search landscape photography Love the way your channel is

Searching trends may indicate new people to the genres but once you have settled on a good content creator, you probably would reduce you searches. Just a thought.

Could it be something to do with the video style? Urban photography has a bit of a ASMR feel to it, but I don't notice that about landscape photography videos.

Your in the field videos Are my fav👏 Keep up the good work Mads. 2025 lezz go🥳📸

Hi Mads; I always enjoy your videos, but especially these in the field movies I find really motivating. Cheers

Couldn‘t it also be that wildlife has become more interesting for hobby photographer‘s because lenses for wildlife photography have become more affordable? Thus people are more shifting and trying out different things, just a thought.

I’m not sure if the trends data gives the entire picture. It would be interesting to see how camera sales have tracked over the same period of time. Personally, I think that the combination of smart phones getting better and the rise of video have encroached on the format of taking stills in general. Even though very good digital cameras are not as expensive as before more people feel that just carrying around their phone is enough.

Love the polar bear shots.

I blame digital cameras and cell phones. Years ago not everyone could take a beautiful photo without good equipment and knowledge on how to compose that shot. Now technology does it for you an we are just not very impressed any more with amazing photos. They’re just a dime a dozen now unfortunately

What's the other thing that's happened during the period you're examining? The use of cell phones to take photographs and the decline of the use of "traditional" cameras. Overall many people have given up on cameras and instead use their cell phones; as a result, many of these people are probably less likely to watch KZbin videos about people using regular cameras for nature or wildlife photography (although regular cameras are much more important for taking wildlife photos).

FWIW - I'm a landscape photographer and I enjoy seeing you out in the countryside doing landscape photography. I generally don't need to know about camera gear and I generally don't watch photographers sitting in front of a camera in their homes talking to me about photography.

The f/2.8 vs f/4 discussion is pretty interesting; it used to be the gold standard that you should get the trio of a wide angle (14-24), mid (24-70) and tele (70-200) all in f/2.8 you're golden for all kinds of photography, and it's what many photo journalists have carried around the world. Today, all brands have an f/4 alternative in the same focal lengths though, and the difference in price is quite big. Add the fact that today, cameras generally have very good image stabilization, often 5 stops or more worth, while, when the f/2.8 lenses became the professional norm there were no in body stabilization at all; also, modern cameras can usually handle going to a higher ISO without making the image useless. So, unless there's some very specific reason that you absolutely have to squeeze that one stop out of your gear, most of the time the f/4 versions are a more sensible option, both as said in terms of price, but also in terms of size and weight. If you commonly find potential pictures that won't be possible due to lacking that one stop, it's usually a much better ide IMO to add an f/1.8 prime or two to your kit. This of course is for those who do other things than landscapes, as Mads points out in the video, for landscapes you almost never want to use a fully open aperture anyways.

to this day, the best video about Iceland. thank you!

Inb4 12 other landscape photographers make this video.

I think the "saturation" explanation is important but I would add another. The aging population of still photographers. Look at any gathering of still photographers and the odds are it's nearly only retirees (pensioners, OAP, whatever). These older people are less likely today to go hanging off mountains and are more attracted to editing, street, macro (worth checking on Trends...). I am also in the older cohort, but oddly I really enjoy your outings. I live in southern Sweden and the landscape challenges you meet are similar to those I face and I really enjoy hearing your thoughts on those trips.

Perhaps there is a correlation to what kind of cameras are used. With more and more people using their smartphone as their camera they are more likely to develop an interest for e.g. street photography? You don't see many people taking their smartphone out on a tripod to capture the perfect sunrise 😊

Hello Mads, hope you're keeping well. Your thoughts in this video have been in the back of my mind oh for a long time. As a purely amateur photographer, my one passion has been landscape for as long as I can remember; I'm 71 so how far I can remember back may already be declining as I grow steadily older. I know in my heart that landscape photography is so much a part of me. I don't enter competitions, I don't win prizes and I don't think I know anyone who is an amateur photographer like me. If it wasn't for you great guys out there talking about your landscape photography, posting videos, talking about landscape photography and giving the benefit of your experiences, it would be a very isolated world; and sometimes I feel like that. I go out into the country with my camera and tripod and I photograph trees or hills or shadows or fungi or water ort grass or a beautiful sky; and I sit down and look and enjoy looking and feeling the wind on my face, or the warmth of the sun or the trickle of rain; and I am in my element. I see walkers out solo or in groups and they take 'selfies' or group images with their phones, but nothing of the landscape. Very occasionally I will see someone out with their camera and there is that hope maybe stop and talk. But as soon as soon as they see me, they're off and gone. At a Summer Fair last year, there were the usual loads of stalls selling all sorts, much not really related to the countryside. I saw a stall selling landscape photographs and I thought here is my chance to talk to other landscape photographers. I was dismayed to find that they wouldn't talk about photography at all and not even about the photographs they had on sale. Something similar happened just last month (November 2024). This time I had my camera bag and closed-up tripod with me as I had been down to a river to do some twilight photography. The stall holders must have seen me and went out of their way to ignore that I was there. So, I am perplexed, Mads. I just cannot find anyone who wants to talk about landscape photography, share ideas and experiences from an amateur point of view. It is a very lonely world out here, Mads. I love my photography but sometimes it can be very hard to keep going when there is so much isolation. It is because of how I feel about my photography which is what keeps me going. I don't follow any trends or styles and most likely my photography breaks many rules for composition. But it is how my work makes me feel that is important to me. For me, Mads, landscape photography will never fade until that final click of the shutter. Paul, South Yorkshire.

Jeg er amatørfotograf, dog meget seriøs. Jeg ville elske at komme med på tur bare for at lære. Jeg tager primært billeder af kunst, men landskabsfotografi har vakt min interesse på det seneste. Virkelig flotte billeder! 😊

Landscape photographer 101: 1)Go to Iceland 2)Take Pictures 3)Go back home 4)Dodge and burn the hell out of them 5)Post blue or yellow glowy pictures on instagram 6) Make a KZbin video about your "workflow" while editing like you have achromatopsia.

All that data is based on Trends. So you are basing your question on a Narrow sample of those who are Merely looking for what is ‘Trendy’! Fine if you are targeting the Trendy audience, But this Will fall off over time. As you have shown. You need to Ask the Right Question?

Interesting. However, I wonder if the reduction in searches has been offset by the number of subscriptions to landscape photographers such as yourself or Nigel & others. I rarely go to Google to search for these terms because KZbin s so good at showing new channels in my feed related to previous views and the subscriptions I already have. I don't need to search anymore, you just popup in my feed!

just subscribed for landscape photography tips and inspiration 👍 well done playing the algorithmn sir.

Thanks Mads, Merry Xmas still and hope for a good new year fot you. I do hope your workshops still are fully booked and have sufficient interest ? Maybe covid had something to do with a shift of interest. Due to Covid I had to cancel a holiday to Ireland and from the refund money I bought a tele lens. I enjoyed it a lot photographing kingfishers in the local park. I have a broader interest in photography now than before Covid. Maybe the searches do not tell the whole story too, people who already follow you get notifications to view your content and do not fill those statistics. I appreciate the 'in the field' videos most to see how you approach photography there and especially how to stay somewhat comfortable in miserable conditions

I think covid may have had a big effect on those statistics

It's also about time. These days it appears almost everyone is constantly rushing to be somewhere else, which doesn't fit landscape photography too well.

I really like when you are out and about and shooting some very nice pictures. I have both your ebooks and watch your videos to help me learn more about landscape photography. You are a fantastic photographer my friend. Just EPIC!😊 I do not use Google if I don’t have to. I found you on KZbin a couple of years ago and now follow you on Instagram.

Yah phones and instagram probably have a lot to do with these numbers. Also you typically can't do good wildlife photography with a phone, so there's that.

Does the trend correlate with mirrorless cameras and autofocus technology that increases the hobbyist ability to actually pursue other genres?

If I was trying to explain landscape vs wildlife I'd start with the fact wildlife is a lot harder. You need reliable autofocus, you need a big expensive lens, you need to know your settings backwards, you need to get all the detail from your edits etc. so there's more need for research on the topic to get it right. You're never going to capture a close up of a sea eagle plucking a fish from the ocean with your phone, but it can do a pretty decent job of a mountain or sunset, and automatically enhance it for you. And then oversaturation of the market due to this low barrier to entry leads to less excitement from the masses. This sounds good in theory but it doesn't explain how street photography is beating them both. I'd never have suspected that.

It might be because people are getting more and more addicted to social media with a focus on showing selfies more. Which means less people are interrested in hobbies in general and just end up wasting a lot of time on social media instead. Just a thought

I think there is a fatigue with landscape photography in amazing places which are costly to get to, both environmentally and for the pocket. All the best photos have already been captured! Showing people how to get the most from their neighbourhood is maybe the way forward for now? Originality rather than paint (or snap) by numbers possibly?

Instagram have changed, its not for photography anymore, more like commercial and selfies likes and you have to pay for views. Just a dead forum now without genuine posts, but for some that wants a second income..