telephoto compression

Reach for it when you want to layer elements into a graphic, flattened composition—cityscapes, mountain ranges, or line-ups where depth would distract. Pair it with a clean background that reinforces the stacking; a cluttered midground fights the effect. Avoid on scenes that rely on deep-space cues, like atmospheric perspective or leading lines into the distance—compression kills that depth. Pitfall: subject isolation can vanish; use a shallow depth of field to keep your hero sharp against the compressed backdrop.