I had this same problem when I started shooting stunning mountain ranges such as the Rockies, Alps and Apennines. Every time I shot the range I found the I mages looked nearly identical and something seemed to be lacking. To break the boredom I first tried to seek out a truly grand peak such as the Matterhorn, Mt. Rainier or the Maroon Bells and center the image on the singular peak and still didn't like the results. In the end I came up with 2 solutions. One was to get some spectacular weather or a sunrise or sunset to fill the sky and thus create a once in a lifetime scene (you will never get the same sky twice) but still found that somewhat limiting as the weather did not always preform as I would like. The other option, and the one I currently favor, is to seek out a powerful foreground and then set the mountain range as a backdrop. For foregrounds I prefer water to reflect the mountains, a field of flowers, groves of trees or leading lines like winding roads. Of course I prefer to have the foreground AND a great sky but…   Posted: 07/04/2025 19:07:59

Hi Michael. This mountain range is beautiful and being in its presence makes it hard not to capture its grandeur. This photo nicely showcases the jagged peaks and the blanket of trees in the foreground. However, like you, I have so many wide angle shots of similar scenes and over time they blend together. In response to your question, unless there's a vibrant or stormy sky or incredible lighting, I prefer to use a telephoto lens to isolate and emphasize the unique details instead of the mountain range. I'm also drawn to simple, minimalistic compositions and a telephoto helps me to achieve that. Additionally, I also use Larry's suggestion for making the foreground the focal point and a mountain as background.   Posted: 07/12/2025 13:47:31

Gee Michael - I wasn't far (as the crow flies that is) from Monarch Pass this July. I spend several weeks in Colorado and Utah every summer and often face the same dilemma. Monarch Pass (like most Colorado Passes) is truly beautiful. It's sooo frustrating to stand in the presence of such a majestic mountain range with my camera, but not be able to capture that "sense" of majesty in a photo. As I travel, I see beautiful views but rarely have the time to stop and wait for the clouds or sunset to develop or the wildflowers to bloom for me.

I agree with Larry that a good foreground helps make a photo stand out. If the foreground is good but won't fit in the viewfinder, consider taking a series of verticals and stitching them in Lightroom Classic. I've had good luck with this technique.

Many people replace the sky which can help a lot (not allowed in some PSA competitions). That option might require some lighting changes to the primary scene as well. Something I've been meaning to try - but haven't yet done.   Posted: 07/22/2025 19:20:12