There's much to be said about the impact of a side-by-side comparison. Take for example an image of a pristine lake from the 1800s, compared to a photo of that same lake today. You might see a visible reduction in water level, or perhaps new development in the area—maybe the lake has completely dried and is no longer there at all. What makes photo comparisons striking are the differences between the two images that are now made so apparent. (See creepy before and after photos of abandoned American resort towns.)

But what if you can make the same impact with one single photo?

National Geographic photographer Simon Norfolk makes the case for using creative means to land a