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Writer's pictureJennifer Dixon

The Art of Composition: Creating Captivating Landscape Photos

Ready to dive into the wild world of composition and capture some jaw-dropping landscape photos? Let's get into it – it's like painting with pixels and you're the artist! Capturing the beauty of the natural world through photography is a rewarding endeavor and mastering the art of composition is essential for creating captivating landscape photos.


Composition goes beyond technical expertise; it's about arranging elements within the frame to convey a story, evoke emotions, and draw viewers into the scene. With the few steps below, we will explore the principles of composition and I'll provide some practical tips on using techniques such as leading lines, the rule of thirds, and framing to enhance the visual impact of your landscape shots.


The Rule of Thirds: Alright, the rule of thirds is a fundamental principle that

Example of Rule of Thirds Grid
Example of Rule of Thirds Grid

divides your frame into nine equal parts using two horizontal and two vertical lines. Imagine your photo frame divided into nine squares, kind of like a tic-tac-toe board. Now, pick those four spots where the lines intersect – we call those power points. Placing your main subjects or points of interest along these lines or at the power points adds balance and dynamism to your composition. When it comes to landscapes, consider placing the horizon on either the top or bottom horizontal line, depending on whether the sky or foreground is more captivating. This technique adds depth and engages viewers' eyes as they explore both the foreground and background. It's like giving your photo a snazzy layout, drawing people in to explore every nook and cranny.

Sunrise North Carolina
Sunrise North Carolina

Leading Lines: Leading lines are powerful tools for guiding the viewer's eye and creating a sense of depth within a photograph. Natural elements like roads, rivers, paths, or even rows of trees can serve as leading lines that draw attention toward the main subject or a vanishing point in the distance. Composing your shot so that these lines converge or disappear into the background can create a strong sense of perspective, immersing viewers into the scene.

Leading Lines Example | Slot Canyon in Arizona
Leading Lines Example | Slot Canyon in Arizona

Framing: Framing involves using elements in the foreground to create a "frame" around your main subject. Let those tree branches, archways, or gaps between trees frame your superstar. It's like giving your pic a fancy border while keeping the focus on the main attraction. The frame helps to focus attention on the subject while adding depth and context. When framing, ensure that the foreground element doesn't overpower the subject and that it complements the overall composition.

Framing Example | Boat House Lake Louise Canada
Framing Example | Boat House Lake Louise Canada

Foreground Interest: In landscape photography, a compelling foreground can significantly enhance the depth and visual interest of your shot. Including interesting elements like rocks, flowers or other natural features in the foreground adds a sense of scale and dimension. The foreground serves and as an entry point for viewers, it's like inviting people to the coolest party in town – they'll want to stick around and enjoy the whole show.

Foreground Interest Example | Oregon Coast
Foreground Interest Example | Oregon Coast

Balance and Symmetry: Striving for balance in your composition is important, whether it's through symmetrical or asymmetrical arrangements. Symmetry can be achieved by photographing reflections in calm water or capturing scenes where elements are evenly distributed on both sides of the frame. Asymmetrical balance creates a dynamic tension, often achieved by placing the main subject off-center in accordance with the rule of thirds and helps to make things exciting and keeps people's eyes moving around your image.

Balance and Symmetry Example | Wyoming
Balance and Symmetry Example | Wyoming

Golden Hour and Light: The quality of light greatly impacts your composition. The "golden hour," which occurs during the first and last hour of sunlight, offers soft, warm light that enhances the colors and textures of landscapes. This light angle also creates long shadows and adds depth to your images. During these times, the sun is low on the horizon, casting a golden hue that can transform an ordinary scene into a magical one.

Golden Light Example | Texas Gulf Coast
Golden Light Example | Texas Gulf Coast
Golden Light Example | North Texas
Golden Light Example | North Texas

Mastering the art of composition in landscape photography is a continuous journey that requires practice, experimentation and a keen eye for detail.

Mixing and matching these tricks is really your secret sauce for mind-blowing landscape photos. By employing techniques like the rule of thirds, leading lines, framing, and foreground interest, you can create visually stunning and emotionally resonant landscape photos. Remember, it's not just about following rules – it's about letting your creativity run wild and seeing where you can adapt and refine these techniques to tell your own unique stories through your photographs.


To see more examples of landscape compositions and understand why certain elements work while others do not, watch this YouTube video with Peter Iversen.


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