People are not always willing to listen to unpopular opinions, mainly because they often do not agree with them. This stems from the human tendency to confirm our preexisting views and dismiss any information that challenges them.
It can be difficult to accept that our perceptions might not be right, especially if we strongly believe in what we are saying. However, by airing out our unpopular opinions, we can potentially shift the conversation in a more constructive direction. After all, it is better to have an open and candid discussion about the topics at hand, rather than bury them and hope they go away.
There are many rules that photographers live by. But is it really necessary to adhere to these guidelines? There are times when breaking these rules can actually produce better results. For example, sometimes, a more spontaneous approach can lead to better shots. Ultimately, it all comes down to achieving the desired goal, whether that’s capturing stunning images or telling a story in the most authentic way possible. So, go ahead and break some photographic rules. As long as you know why you are breaking them, they’ll help you produce better results.
In this video by First Man Photography, he openly discusses his thoughts on the five most unpopular photography opinions that we most frequently hear, including gear, compositional rules, honeypot locations, post-production, and the future of photography. They might be controversial, but that doesn’t mean they’re not worth considering. After all, isn’t learning supposed to be transformative?
More of gear doesn't matter debate is partially a fun inside joke since the most common experience to outside viewers, is someone saying that gear doesn't matter as they then proceed to talk about a photo shoot where they used a $6000+ camera, $25,000 worth of lenses, a full set of high end studio flashes that they brought on location, and high end light modifiers.
Overall it is a topic that is too nuanced for a blanket term.