Start with the edges
Before adjusting settings, inspect all four edges. A bright branch, half a rock, or a sloping horizon can distract from the main shape. Move the camera before reaching for a wider lens.
Make one controlled comparison
Photograph the same view from two heights with the exposure held steady. Compare how foreground scale and overlapping forms change the sense of depth. Keep notes about the position rather than only the settings.
Edit a small sequence
Choose an opening view, a closer observation, and a detail. A coherent three-image sequence often explains a place more clearly than several dramatic but unrelated photographs.