The essence of a deep photo essay lies in its ability to complicate a single point by adding contrasting perspectives—such as the beauty found in things that do not last.

: Every "deep" essay must clarify its mission, whether it is written in a matter-of-fact tone or as a first-person account of a personal quest.

A photo essay is defined as a form of visual storytelling that builds a narrative across images, a tradition rooted in the objective news reporting of the 1920s that has since evolved into deeply personal, subjective journeys.