To create a sense of depth and make a photo feel less flat, what three distinct layers should an expert look for in a scene?

To create a sense of depth and make a photograph less flat, an expert looks for three distinct layers within a scene: the foreground, the midground, and the background. The foreground is the area of the scene closest to the camera. It helps create depth by providing an immediate visual anchor or starting point for the viewer's eye, establishing a sense of proximity and leading the viewer into the image. For example, rocks or foliage placed at the bottom of the frame can serve this purpose. The midground is the central area of the scene, located between the foreground and the background, and typically contains the primary subject or main point of interest. This layer defines the core narrative of the photograph and clearly separates what is close from what is far, strengthening the perception of intermediate distances. An example would be a person or a prominent building positioned within a landscape. The background is the area of the scene furthest away from the camera. It contributes to depth by providing context, scale, and a sense of vastness or distance for the elements in the midground. The separation and distinctness of the background, whether through focus, atmospheric conditions like haze, or clear visual boundaries, complete the illusion of receding layers and make the image feel expansive rather than compressed.