A picture can be interpreted in many different ways.  Unlike an alphabetic text, a visual piece has the potential for so many different  meanings.  Some pictures can be more powerful than essays and can have more of an effect on the interpreter.  A picture captures a moment in time that would normally be gone in just a few seconds.  Capturing that moment allows the viewer to spend time looking at the image and interpreting a covert meaning. Life moves along so fast that without a camera,  we miss important, small details.  The photo "Faith and Confidence" by William C. Beall catches the viewer's attention almost immediately.This photo is simple and some may call boring but the simplicity is another visual element the artist uses to emphasize the importance of the picture.  Although it is a simple photo it has a lot of meaning behind it.   The photographer uses perspective, focus, color and space to portray the innocence of children and the scene behind the picture. 

This photo's main point is the police officer talking to the little boy.  The officer is bent over to get to a lower level while talking to the boy, which shows that the police is trying to be less intimidating and truly engage in his conversation with the child.  The way the child is standing and looking up makes it seem like he is looking up to the officer in amazement and maybe even as an idol.  The way the two are standing helps to show that  the conversation they are having is not intense and enforces the innocence of the photo.  The crowd, while blurred in the background, shows clues to what may be happening on the outside of the photo.  The people in the back look as though they are all paying attention to something happening in front of them, which may mean there is an event going on in the street.  They appear to be close to or  standing on the sidewalk, which also leads to the assumption of something happening in the streets.  Seeing as though most of the people are on the sidewalk, viewers may believe the officer is asking the little boy to stay on the sidewalk with the rest of the spectators.  Even though the police may be telling the boy to go back to the sidewalk, it is still apparent that the boy is impressed by the police and wants to talk with him. 

This photo was taken straight on with a little bit of an angle.  As small of a detail as angle is, it has a lot of power with how relatable the picture is.  Because the picture is taken straight on the viewer automatically notices the focal point that is in the center of the photo.  Also having a slight angle to the picture makes it more relatable and makes it seem like the viewer is witnessing this moment themself.  The photo is taken as if it could be any bystander taking the it, and that makes it seem real.  When a viewer can relate to a photo or feel as though they are there themselves, they feel more comfortable making a meaning towards the picture and placing their own beliefs within the photo.  Differing opinions can come from different experiences with police.  Feeling as though the viewer is the one taking the picture they will use their past experiences with police to interpret what is going on in the photo and the feelings of the characters. 

The artist uses the technique of focus by choosing to have some of the picture in focus and some not.  The most important part of this photo is the little boy looking up to the police officer, this part was placed in focus.  This is what the artist wants the viewer to notice the most and think about.  Placing the two people in focus while the rest of the picture is blurry makes them stand out.  This technique helps viewers to automatically pay attention to the main point of the boy and officer.  Not knowing much of the photo's history someone looking at the photo can infer that the relationship between the two is important.  The crowd in the background is out of focus, yet it can still be seen and depicted by a viewer.  This part of the picture is important to understand the meaning of the photo but not as important as the two main subjects. Having the background out of focus can prove this, but without the crowd in the back the viewer would have a harder time assuming what is happening.  The photo would not have the same meaning or effect without having the rest of the people behind, so, even though they are blurred, it is still needed.  

Having the picture in black and white rather than in color helps with the theme of innocence and overall simplicity.  Without color there is less to pay attention to because there are not as many details.  The focus of the viewer remains on the police opposed to what colors there are in the photo and what emotions can come from them.  The photo seems more simple with no color and easier to understand.  With the black and white the little boy seems more innocent and  as though he has potential in his eyes.  As a young boy the world is black and white and simple in his eyes, which is portrayed with the lack of color in the photo.  The artist also uses the spacing of the people to help show the innocence of the scene. The camera was taken straight on placing the police and child in the center and  the rest of the crowd in the background.  By doing this it shows the important part and the simplicity of  the photo.  The photo also uses the spacing of the bodies to show their emotions and actions during this moment in time. Having the boy stretching his neck staring straight up to the police shows his innocence to the rest of the world. 

The audience of this photo instantly notices the child looking up toward the police officer and that is what the photographer wanted.  The main point is clearly pictured and can easily be interpreted by an outsider.  The automatic thoughts of this photo come from the special techniques used by  Beall such as perspective, focus, color and spacing to outline the moment in time this photo was taken and how the simplicity of this photo helps to form more complex thoughts.  A photo stops time and then becomes available for interpretation and effects the photo contains. Without photography many occasions will pass by without any thought or impacts on bystanders.  

