Wood-Fired Pizza

A wood-fired pizza rests near the mouth of a brick oven, its crust blistered in dark spots and puffed along the edge. Melted mozzarella gathers between bright tomato sauce and torn basil leaves, while a dusting of flour trails across the wooden peel beside it. Behind the pizza, glowing coals and warm oven bricks add a darker patch of texture without stealing the focus.

Begin with the crust and round edge, since they give the picture its shape right away. The basil leaves and browned bubbles in the cheese make useful landmarks across the center. Later, the floury peel, brickwork and coals need a slower look, but their rough surfaces keep the final pieces from blending together.