This image from Capra's "It Happened One Night" encapsulates the desperation that our protagonists go through in order to get to New York. In the foreground of this straight on long shot, the giant, shadowy hay bails create the illusion of an indoor setting, making the entire frame seem smaller and more cramped than it is. The dark tones of the image not only show the time of day that the scene takes place, but also the tone of the scene: lost. The lack of background besides the clouds lends to that as well. The tree is slanted, as are the wheels and fence in disarray, all elements to add to the unease created by the setting.
In the foreground Peter is hard at work, as he is the dominant action in the scene while Ellie remains passive and small in the background. This plays into their characters as well as the scene. In her everyday life she is waited on and the dominant person in her life. When she is around Peter she is completely under his control. Their clothing also lends to their being out of place in this location. Peter is wearing a suit, and although she isn't visible here, Ellie wears a long skirt and blouse. The contrast is what makes this solemn location pop as the moment that the two clearly fall for eachother. They are both taken completely out of their comfort zones and into this unfamiliar place where all they have is one another.
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