I wanted to add that what you call the near-far principle operates in travel photography and photojournalism as well. I often think of this as the key to great use of wide-angle lenses even when shooting street photojournalism with people. Wide-angle shots can often be underwhelming if there’s not something to fill the foreground. I like to do wide angle portraits with person in the foreground, perhaps off to the side, perhaps looking off the frame, and with something interesting in the background.

Of course to do this, you have to – as you say – not be afraid of getting close to your subject. If your subject is people, then that means you’ve got to have a relationship with them before you can do that sort of thing.

And that also makes me think of the famous dictum in photojournalism – if your photos aren’t good, then you’re not close enough.

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