My photos are usually bad, but ones of white surfaces might be even less interesting than normal…
Anyway, I’ve only just started using gesso, and it’s an interesting art material to use. You have to use many layers to get a smooth surface (if that’s what you want!) and let it dry thoroughly between layers. It does seem to auto-level as it dries but can take many layers to ‘recover’ from scratches (due, for example from over-enthusiastic sanding).
One idea I had was to take the artifical pumice stone (for feet) that I was using and cover one side of that with gesso to make a smoothing stone. Might work.
In any case, it is quite satisfying getting a really smooth surface, but not clear that’s always what I wan, as it therefore has no tooth for the paint. Will continue to experiment.