Oyster Photo Analysis

The fishing industry is a tough area to be employed in. Among different fishing types, Oyster fishing could be categorized as one of the most difficult and stressful jobs to have.  Photographs of sailors, boats, and the conditions they do their work in are taken to show the viewer how tough it is out at sea. This Photograph, in particular, can suggest many themes based on its composition, color, and layout.

The most apparent observation would be what is centered in the picture.  The man grasping the two poles could suggest he is on a boat, holding on for balance. Rhetorically however, this could suggest the fisherman needing support from the harsh fishing season because of the scarcity of oysters. The supports he is holding on to could signify the strength of the boat and crew he is on, determined to stop at nothing to get their catch.

 The fisherman is also wearing a graphic hoodie which can suggest that this character is a youthful oysterman. This photograph could symbolize that even young men and women are hard at work at sea and yet they do not perform and catch what was anticipated. His beanie cap and gloves obviously show the harsh conditions this oysterman lives in and his low-hung head expresses his feeling about it: He isn’t too excited and the blank, dull, and endless ocean he looks upon suggests a feeling of loneliness which contradicts the hope presented by the supports.

The overall theme of this visual was to show concern for oyster fisherman. The endless and gray  ocean presents the theme of hopelessness, while the determined oysterman is supported by the theme of hope. The concern for the youth, and concern for the blue collar men and woman who work in harsh conditions is made more aware based on this photograph, which is strategic and successful.