The Role of Luck in Photography – A Lesson from Iceland

Photography is often about planning, patience, and precision—but sometimes, luck plays the biggest role. There are moments when you line up your shot, focus on a specific subject, and only later realize that fate has given you something even better.

This was exactly what happened when I was photographing the dramatic coastline of Iceland, capturing the power of the waves crashing against the shore. My focus was entirely on the wild ocean and rugged cliffs—until I later reviewed my images and noticed something incredible:

A seagull frozen in flight, perfectly framed against a black aerial void in the image, hovering effortlessly between the coastline and the stormy sea.

I had no idea it was there. A moment of pure luck.

Can You Plan for Luck?
The truth is, you cannot plan for luck—but you can put yourself in the right situations where luck is more likely to happen. The best photographers all have moments where serendipity takes over, creating magic in their images.

Here’s how you can increase your chances of getting lucky while shooting:

1. Keep Shooting – More Frames, More Chances
The more images you take, the more opportunities you have for unexpected magic. If I had only taken one or two shots of the waves, I never would have caught the seagull in flight at the perfect moment.

2. Look Beyond Your Main Subject
While focusing on one element, always be aware of what’s happening in the background and the edges of the frame. Sometimes, the most powerful moments are not in the center of your composition but hidden in the details.

3. Embrace Imperfection
Not every shot will be perfect, but some of the best images come from mistakes, unexpected movement, or fleeting moments you never anticipated. Great photography is about being open to the unknown.

4. Trust the Process
You can plan all you want, but nature, people, and light will always have their own way of surprising you. Stay patient, curious, and ready to embrace the unexpected.

Final Thoughts
Some of the most legendary images in photography have been captured because of pure luck. As photographers, we prepare, we compose, we set the scene—but at the end of the day, it’s those unpredictable, split-second moments that create the most unforgettable images.

So, plan your shots—but leave room for luck. It might just give you the best image of your life.

Want to learn more about the art of observation and capturing the unexpected? Join a Better Moments workshop, where we embrace the power of preparation, patience, and pure photographic luck.

By Christian Nørgaard, Founder of Better Moments