You probably think I’m kidding. I’m not - I do this all the time. Whether I’m on a photo outing or just going about my regular life, I’m always looking at the landscape with compositions in mind. But when I am on a photo outing I still photograph without my camera. That is, I find my photographs first, without my camera in hand.
This is one of the most valuable lessons I ever learned. Most people will jump out of the car, grab their gear, and set up right away, extending the legs of their tripod and mounting their camera. It’s my guess that the very best spot for the shot is usually not right next to the car. I’d like to suggest that you first find your photograph without your camera in hand. Wander around to find what you’re looking for. You’ll be unencumbered by all your gear and you’ll be much more flexible and efficient in finding the optimum spot from which to photograph. Plus, because now you’re light and flexible, you’re likely to find many more interesting possibilities.

Once you think you’ve found a good place to shoot from be sure to mark it somehow. Leave a hat, a stick, or make a scuff mark in the dirt. Next, go get all your gear. Once you get back to your spot, set your tripod somewhere out of the way. Grab your camera and a lens and this time go find your shot in the viewfinder. By handholding the camera, you’ll easily be able to move around.