Choose a shooting perspective

Find the best aspects of a scene and learn to exploit location potential.

01EXPLORE THE LOCATION. When you first arrive leave your camera gear packed away and explore on foot. If completely unfamiliar with the location check for potential subject matter, or if it’s well photographed, look for the key aspects.

02SHOOT WIDE. Start with a wide focal length and frame image that incorporate a large amount of detail. This compresses the scene into the confines of a frame, which will help you identify where it is best to try and direct viewer attention.

03SELECT A LENS. Now that you have picked out key areas of the scene to focus on, pick a lens you feel will best represent your subject. Unless there is an obvious need for a specific lens, standard focal lengths form a simple starting point.

04CHANGE CAMERA HEIGHT. Vary the level of your camera to increase or reduce the presence of foreground detail in your shot. This will also alter the way your subject is represented and can change the wider context of the location.

05CHECK THE FOREGROUND. Look for unwanted detail at the very bottom of your composition, which may impact on the ability of the subject to hold viewer attention. To address any minor issues, make some small alterations to the pitch of the camera.

06SCAN FRAME EDGES. Before deciding on your final composition, check the periphery of your shot for distractions. At this stage you should assess if you have chosen the best balance between accurately representing the location and producing a compositionally successful image.