Andrew O’Brien: A good eye for composition – and passing on a message

The Duchess of Cambridge was once rumoured to be taking a job with the royals’ favourite photographer, Mario Testino. “Maybe one day” said the talented Mr Testino.

That day may have moved a step closer for Kate after she shared some of her private photographs from the recent Jubilee tour to Borneo.

Taken on a point-and-shoot compact digital camera, the pictures show a good eye for composition and an understanding of how light can be used to best effect.

My personal favourite is of a jungle clearing at the Danum Valley research station, shafts of light framed by lush vegetation, with a small opening inviting you into the picture. It is a classic composition, well executed.

What is clear, looking at the pictures as a whole, is that the duchess has employed photography for one of its great uses, that of raising awareness. The picture of a Bornean orang-utan, a species endangered due to deforestation, the beautiful black-and-whites of the forest, the aerial photo of rainforest stretching as far as the eye can see, put together with the palm oil plantation that may meet the future global demands for oil, and the pictures become more of an essay with one clear message, conservation.

So, perhaps we can view the Duchess of Cambridge as more of a photojournalist than just somebody keen on photography. I look forward to following her career.

• Andrew O’Brien is The Scotsman’s picture editor.