In a dystopian future, a gritty protagonist is seen using highly-advanced equipment to measure water levels (subjects can interpret this as metaphorical or literal). The character is in a vast desert, the boundaries of which remain out of focus, giving the impression of an unending wasteland. The camera angle is low, reinforcing the largeness of the protagonist’s task and the insignificance against the sands stretching beyond sight.
The shot is framed with significant space above the subject, oppressive in its emptiness. Tones of harsh white and desolate sand yellow pervade the scene, with scarcely any contrasting colors. The lighting is harsh and unflattering, direct mid-afternoon sun casting everything into stark relief. The character appears worn but resilient, a lone fight against barrenness. His placement far left disrupts balance, suggesting both the imbalance of his world and his active struggle against it.