As a landscape photographer, I find my fans are often more concerned with what comes out of my camera.  However, for those interested in more, I’ve taken time to share some behind-the-scenes stories.  It’s time for the next step.  Do you want to know my mental process for composing a photo?  Well it’s your lucky day, because I’m going to break it down for you in three steps!

Step 1 in My Mental Process

Firstly, I scout around for a scene which interests me.  Not every possible scene will.  I’ll often wonder around a location and try different angles.  Sometimes the best angle isn’t the first angle I see.  Other times, there’s simply no right angle no matter what I try.  Perhaps I find the perfect angle but the light is simply terrible.  All of this and more is why I scout out a potential scene first.

I must have my camera with me for this scouting process to work properly.⠀The presence of my camera reminds me to actively hunt for the right scene.  Without it, I only passively hunt at best.  If I only passively hunt, then I might find something promising but probably won’t take enough of a mental note to return.

Step 2 in My Mental Process

Then, I envision which composition technique would work for the scene I want to try.  Would it work with rule of thirds (most common)?  How about simplicity?  Golden mean (rare to pull off)?  Check this article on photo tips for more composition ideas.

Step 3 in My Mental Process

Lastly, I frame things in my camera’s viewfinder.  Some ideas translate well while others don’t.  I’ve raised my camera up to my eye many times only to watch a promising scene fall apart in front of me.  I click the shutter if I think I’ve got a possibility.  I also try different orientations and compositions to make sure I got the best shot I can.

Conclusion

In conclusion, please remember that these steps happen very quickly and not necessarily in this order.  Also, this mental process consists of split second decisions.  I often make these decisions while looking straight through the viewfinder.

So, what do you think of my mental process for taking my landscape photos?  Does it surprise you?  Do you have a different process yourself?  Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.