Scale

Occasionally you might find it difficult to capture a subject in a way that truly shows off its size and grandeur. This is a common issue in landscape and travel photography. If you photograph Mount Everest by itself, it will be nearly impossible for the viewer to see how massive it truly is. To solve this problem, you need to add an additional element that will give the viewer a measurable comparison. While a tree or a vehicle will usually do the trick, a human being is generally your best option (Figure 8.17). Why? Human beings do not vary in size all that much, which makes them a universal measurement.

Figure 8.17. By bringing two mountain climbers into the frame, I was able to add a sense of scale that showcases the massiveness of the Himalayas.