Perhaps no aspect of landscape photography is trickier than composition. Not only do you get no control over the placement of the elements in the frame, unlike more quantifiable parameters like shutter speed or aperture, composition is tougher to codify and takes longer to understand on a deep and nuanced level. So, how do you find a good composition at a new location? This helpful video tutorial features an experienced landscape photographer discussing his process.
Coming to you from Mike Smith, this great video tutorial will show you his process for finding good landscape compositions at a new location. Composition is something we all struggle with. One of the best things I ever did to improve my skills at it was to simply slow down and spend more time in a location, carefully reading it and experimenting with different options. We are often in a hurry to get as many images as possible, but this can sometimes work against us and keep us from creating our best and most nuanced work. Check out the video above for the full rundown from Smith.
And if you really want to dive into landscape photography, check out "Photographing The World 1: Landscape Photography and Post-Processing with Elia Locardi."
Get yourself a pair of muck boots. sometimes getting into the stream helps your composition and lets you remove a distracting branch or two. I have a pair and water shoes for the warmer weather. Nothing wrong with rolling a rock out the frame if placing a leaf in it is OK.