Goodbye Retirement - Bad Idea?
- RetiredCormac
- 1 day ago
- 2 min read
I’ve come out of retirement. Not for money. For a free holiday.
Eh? How does that work?
I have applied to be Icelandair’s “Worst Photographer in the World”
Yes I know I said the world of work was behind me, but sometimes an opportunity presents itself that you’re just drawn to. And even better when it is the perfect fit - no skills required ✔️ I’m super excited.
I can change my blog to www.TemporarilyEmployedCormac.co.uk for the short time that I’d be re-entering the world of work.
The Deal
It feels like the Job Spec was written for me;
$50,000 USD pay
No skills required - in fact actively discouraged
Full training provided
10 days work (with 10 days holidays included)
That is half the problem though, with such a low bar - there will be loads of other talentless applicants, so my application may be lost in the inevitable melee of sorting out the time wasters.
A Lifetime of Consistently Bad Photography
I’ve owned cameras for years. Not just one or two — I’ve gone through the full evolutionary chain:
Point-and-shoots - with processing time and money spent for questionable shots
Complicated SLRs with far too many buttons
Supposedly simpler DSLRs - quantity is no substitution for quality but if you take enough shots it sometimes is
iPhones - does any one even have a camera these days.
My photos have consistently captured:
Fingers over lenses
Blurry landscapes that resemble abstract art
Heads or other body parts severed by the limits of the frame
Action shots … completely missed while I adjusted settings
Why This Job Exists
Did I mention paid holiday?
It’s an odd one isn’t it? I can just see marketing pitching it - let’s run that up the flag pole and see if the cat wants to lick it. But it does feel very Icelandic 🇮🇸.
Icelandair are trying to claim that:
“Even if you’re terrible at taking photos… Iceland still looks incredible”
What Happens If I Get The Job?
I’ll show them - any shots that I take - even with training - can only match my already mediocre standard. And they would pay me $50k for it - the suckers!
Why I’m Perfectly Unqualified
If Icelandair do the right thing and actually pick me, here’s what they’re getting:
A man with time on his hands
A camera that deserves better
And a unique ability to make even the most breathtaking place look… bad
But here’s the thing:
Even my worst photos of Iceland will probably still be better than my best photos anywhere else.
And I guess that’s kind of the point.
My application is in - Goodbye Retirement
So yes — I applied.
Because sometimes the best opportunities aren’t about being the best.
They’re about being exactly the wrong person… in exactly the right place.
Wish me luck. Or don’t — it probably won’t improve the photos anyway.
Applications are open until April 30, 2026
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