Composition Trio: Crafting Story in Landscape Photography

Free

My educational journey is deeply entrenched in the realm of science. Over the span of more than a decade, I’ve delved into the intricacies of cell and molecular biology, genetics, and systems biology. This exploration began during my tenure as a medical student, continuing through my Ph.D. studies and subsequent career as a research scientist.

My passion for photography took root at the age of 15, blossoming into a full-fledged pursuit of landscape photography about 10 years ago. Along the way, I’ve found that my scientific upbringing has left an indelible mark on my creative process. I approach problems with a scientific mindset, relying on reason, logic, and experimentation to find solutions and develop theories. This rational approach extends to my exploration of landscape imagery, where I’ve sought to discern patterns and principles that can be applied methodically, rather than relying solely on emotion, as many artists do.

Over the years, I have distilled my observations and insights into a concept and theory of storytelling through compositional techniques in landscape photography – a framework I have shared in over 300 seminars worldwide. This forms the heart of this mini eBook. Here, you will not find mundane discussions about gear or adherence to the rule of thirds; instead, I focus solely on the concept and theory of crafting narratives through the artful manipulation of elements – selection, balance, and placement.

I have no intention of prescribing rigid rules for you to follow. In fact, I firmly believe that there are no hard and fast rules in photography; if you encounter one, muster the courage to break it! My hope is that the concepts and theories presented in this eBook will offer you a fresh perspective on landscape photography, enriching your enjoyment of this art form as much as it has enriched mine.