A BBC radio and television show in the UK called “Room 101”. People argue about sending things they don’t like into the infamous room in Orwell’s book. Nineteen Eighty Four, where they will never be seen again. What will you send there from the world of photography?
Photography is supposed to be fun, but things get in the way. Even the most fun and easygoing of us have things we don’t like. Having the opportunity to complain, blow off steam, and then send them to Room 101 can be a relief.
So here’s a chance to get a little cranky and shout about the trivial things in the world of photography that annoy us. Obviously there are big things like war, racism and misogyny that any reasonable person would like to see end, but that’s not the point of this post. Here’s a chance to get a little cranky and point out the relatively minor things in photography that annoy us.
The plagiarists
These come in many forms. First, there are the freeloaders who want you to let them use your photos on social media. I get them all the time on Instagram, what about you? People and bots search my posts to ask to post my photos on their social media as if I’m doing them a favor. Why do they do this? Because they can make money off my photos. What do I get in return? Nothing.
Second, and worse, are people who take my images and articles and post them on their websites without permission. I’m pretty good at getting those taken down because I just send them an invoice with my terms and conditions, which outlines my charges for using my work without permission.
Theft of copyrighted works is a huge industry that makes criminals millions of dollars a year. Social media companies help protect these criminals because while they may delete individual posts when someone complains, they rarely block these aggregate accounts because they get tens of thousands of views and therefore make money from advertising. Encourage people to unfollow these aggregate accounts, then notify the people whose photos were stolen of the theft and send those thieves to Room 101.
Poor quality products on the online market
When I switched to digital photography, it was just after the Internet became widely available. I lived in a small village in the Scottish wilderness, and even my first generation mobile phone connection allowed me to access stores that I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to access.
Soon, a flood of cheap photography products appeared on the market. This is when I discovered that a bargain is not necessarily true; you get what you pay for in the world of photography. Overpriced filters, rangefinders, memory cards, lenses and tripods flooded online marketplaces that were tax-evading and had no regard for ensuring customers got a bargain.
I still have the colored plastic filters I bought in my naivety. Honestly, I would be reluctant to put them in Room 101 because they are great for low fidelity photos. But a lot of people get tricked into buying them, so they get kicked into Room 101.
Fake Reviews
A long time ago, I bought two reputable photography magazines from the same publishing company. One month, both featured and reviewed the same basic camera. One gave the camera a five-star review, and the other a rather dismal two-star review. Guess which article was right next to the full-page ad for the camera? The other magazine was advertising the camera’s main competitor.
Soon, customer reviews started getting more attention. But then they were manipulated by unscrupulous traders using fake identities to write good reviews for themselves and bad reviews for their competitors. Luckily, there are browser plugins like Fakespot that help identify fake reviews.
Like many writers here, I write reviews about gear. I only review things that I think are good. I get pitched to people all the time about junk products that don’t deserve to be reviewed. But if it’s worth it, I’ll review it.
Sometimes I review gear I’ve purchased, and other times it’s sent to me to try out. Most of it is then sent back to the manufacturer, and other times it’s kept because of the cost of returns. That doesn’t change our opinion of the gear, though. If it’s good, we’ll say so, but at Fstoppers we’re always pointing out what could be improved. It can take days to properly test the gear and then write a review.
With all the effort and time put into writing an honest review, it’s frustrating that fake reviews still appear online.
I submit fake reviews to Room 101.
Big businesses treat customers with contempt
Aside from the cheap stuff that should be sent to Room 101, there’s the frustration we get when a major brand releases a new product and it doesn’t work properly. Unfortunately, the flaw is only discovered after the product has been on the market for a while.
Maybe the camera overheats or breaks like the Canon R5, or maybe it’s a lack of investment like the small but wonderful Nikon 1. I’ll include software makers who are cynical about their customers, introducing subscription-only plans when they promise to keep the license forever. (Nobody forgets, Adobe.)
There are also poor quality and overly restrictive cameras for beginners that either scare off new photographers or force them to upgrade quickly because they are no longer suited to the camera. Furthermore, the lie in advertising that anyone who buys one of the manufacturers’ entry-level cameras will become as good as the next National Geographic photographer is a despicable lie.
Therefore, manufacturers who disregard their customers will be sent to the hell called Room 101.
Single use plastic
This is something I often include in reviews and I see more and more manufacturers taking notice. A few years ago, there was a lot of plastic packaging to accompany every product. Now, there has been a significant reduction, with many boxes having just a thin layer of cellophane and no plastic inside. Even better are those that don’t put plastic around the outside of the box but instead protect the product in a reusable or biodegradable bag inside the box. Likewise, boxes are becoming simpler and the non-recyclable shiny foil with metallic lettering is becoming a thing of the past.
Yet there are still manufacturers who insist on having multiple layers of plastic in their packaging. Of course, they are missing out on customers who will reject their products because of it. They are, in effect, condemning themselves to Room 101. Meanwhile, businesses that respect the planet are being rewarded.
Silly names for camera functions
Camera manufacturers cannot agree on common names for functions. Every other branch of science—and photography is both a science and an art—has standardized nomenclature.
Photography has expanded in countless directions. Why do Nikon, Sony, and Canon call burst shooting “continuous” when that word is usually associated with autofocus? So, who among the wise men at Canon decided that continuous autofocus should be called “AI Servo” or single autofocus “One-Shot”?
All manufacturers should stop pretending that their Matrix, Evaluative, multi, multiple or Electro-Selective Pattern modes are not advanced average metering modes.
Canon also deviates with the symbols they use for their metering modes. They also have Av and Tv modes which the rest of the world calls A and S. Fujifilm, why are there all the unlabeled buttons on the X-T4 or Single-Autofocus, Single Shot and Shutter Priority all labeled “S” on the X-T3?
Is there any art or industry with such an obscure name designed to confuse users?
This stupid term should be put in Room 101.
What bothers you?
All of this seems a little ironic. Adobe makes great software. Yes, AI Servo is a silly name, but I guess Canon users are used to it. I find all of this both amusing and frustrating.
Maybe none of that bothers you at all. Maybe you’re annoyed by the AI generation I used to create some of the photos above, or all those Instagram reels of cats and cucumbers drive you crazy. Maybe it’s a specific subject that just doesn’t capture you.
What little annoyances will you complain about and send to Room 101? Keep it light and friendly; it’s photography, not war.
For some light complaining while you’re editing your photos, series one And series two Room 101 can be heard on the BBC Sounds website.
