COMPOSING YOUR PHOTOS
Photographic composition is a complex subject, but knowing a few fundamental will instantly improve your photography. As with many other things in life, often the key to good photography is keeping it simple! In the mountains we will often reach for a wide-angle lens, to capture the enormity of the landscape. The key here is to be careful not to include too much. Think carefully about the foreground. Is it cluttered, or it is simple? A cluttered foreground will usually just weaken the overall composition, rather than strengthen it. However, using strong ‘leading lines’ in the foreground helps to draw the viewer’s eye into the image. In some locations it will be hard to find strong lines in a foreground. In these instances, searching for foreground elements that mirror the shape or tone of the background is a good way to go. Symmetry in the image will help the viewer form a visual connection between the foreground and background.
Simplicity is also important if you are shooting photos at a longer focal length. If it is a distant snowy peak lit by a burst of light that has caught your eye, make the photo about that. Consider if you actually need to include a foreground at all, or if it will just be a distraction.