In
April of 2011, the Deepwater Horizon oil spill simultaneously devastated the ecosystem
of United States’ Gulf Coast and the hundreds of thousands of men that rely on
it as a source of income. This photograph of an unknown oysterman deftly
conveys the overall feeling of despair that has continued to afflict so many
people since the fateful malfunction. Back tuned, face hidden, this particular
man becomes a symbol for the fishing industry as a whole. With his downward
gaze, a true signal of defeat and hardship, this universal figure embodies the
photograph’s caption, “Oystermen still plagued by gulf oil spill”, communicating
to the viewer just how burdensome the effects of the aforementioned plague are on
the members of the industry.
The figure’s outstretched
grasp on the poles along side him appears to be one of exhausted resignation as
it is paired with a solemnly hung head. His
position of utter surrender gives the viewer further insight into just how difficult
things have become for the many people that this environmental disaster has affected.
At the same time, the unknown seafarer’s bowed head casts a, no doubt, grave
look upon the water on which he depends so heavily, and which has failed him in
a time when he needs it the most.
The
almost panoramic view of the horizon in the distance seems to be indicative of
the unforeseeable future that awaits the innocent individuals dealing with
these unlucky circumstances. Here, it is a representation of the promise of
tomorrow and the eventual recovery from the oil spill that has tarnished the
livelihoods of so many people. The faceless oysterman’s position in relation to
the horizon hints at a positive turn of events along the way. While the outer
edges appear dark and mysterious, the central point of the horizon emits a
faint, promising light that provides a feeling of hope for the future of the
horrible situation at hand.
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