I often start framing up my photographs by starting with getting one corner right. Mark Littlejohn verbalised it for me, when we were running a workshop with Tim Parkin in the Lake District a few years ago.  

Once I get one corner right, my eye flicks through the other three and I move the composition again and again until they are all right.  I also run my eye up around the borders too.  As Pam says, “go on border patrol.” 

By spending time getting the corners right you can concentrate the photographs attention on the main subject.  Starting there just makes life so much easier. 

Coachwoods and Ferns on Minnamurra Rainforest Walk near Kiama at Jamberoo.  Photograph and text copyright © Len Metcalf 2018