
Most people are familiar with the saying spiders are more scared of you than you are of them. Whether or not one chooses to believe this statement is completely up to them. The photograph that I have selected might just reflect this same theme, but instead of people and spiders, the relationship is between people and police officers. Over the recent years, there have been a plethora of shootings committed by police on everyday citizens, some of whom turned out to be completely innocent. As a result, tension has increased and police officers have been criticized and even threatened. More recently, the Black Lives Matter Movement has picked up steam, stemming directly from these devastating shootings. Not only do black lives matter, but so do Hispanic lives, Asian lives, Caucasian lives, etc.  Every single human that walks this earth has value, and it is about time that people start accepting everyone as they are. Through its asymmetrical design, Rodrigo Abd's intriguing photograph captures an interaction between a policeman and an everyday citizen which represents the tension and fear surrounding this issue which is currently devastating countries worldwide. 

The first thing that catches the viewer’s eye is the man whose head is halfway submerged in a pool of dirty, brown water. The man has a very frightened look on his face, as if he is shocked and perhaps afraid to see the police officer looking at him. His facial expression alone leads the reader to assume that he is trying to possibly stay under the radar, risking cleanliness in order to remain hidden. In addition, the country where this photo was taken seems to be more impoverished than the United States. Although this might not have a direct correlation with crime rates, it is presumed that countries with lower standards of living tend to have a greater percentage of its population living below the poverty line. As a result, some might take whatever action necessary in order to get by to support their families, which could cause incidents with higher authority. Furthermore, the cloudy weather and overall atmosphere adds to the viewer’s interpretation of the image, providing a depressed and dull mood. It would be interesting to see how different the image would be if it were sunny outside as opposed to being overcast. 

Although less obvious than the actual content captured, the way in which the photograph was taken could possess greater importance. For instance, the photographer does an ideal job of implementing the rule of thirds, refusing to focus on one single figure that would stand out to the viewer. The landscape style of the photograph is able to capture the entire scene and interaction. This brings equal attention to the man hiding below the water and the policeman on his motorcycle. Additionally, the design of the photo is traditional in the aspect that the two people who garner the most attention are on opposite sides of the photo, with notable space in between them. By snapping the photo like this, it almost feels as if the viewer is forced to pick a side, needing to show more support for one individual over the other. In my opinion, the photo creates a very “me versus you” feeling. 

Above all, the most paramount component of this photograph is the angle at which it was taken. The photo was taken at a height that is in between ground level and standing level. The police officer is riding on his motorcycle actually looking down at the man beneath the water, maybe at a forty-five-degree angle. This aspect holds the most importance simply because of the underlying message it carries with it. As we have seen in today’s society, there have been numerous marches and protests in response to police brutality. This image portrays the disconnect between the average citizen and higher authority perfectly. Police officers are responsible for serving and protecting its citizens from harm and danger, but lately this has not necessarily been the case. Police worldwide, but primarily in the United States, have been assigned poor reputations as a result of all the controversy. In regards to minorities, especially African Americans in the United States, people now feel uneasy when briefed with the presence of police officers. These innocent people have now become fearful of the higher authority that is supposed to be protecting them. The chief duty of police officers is to make sure that we are living in an environment that is safe and secure. Over the past couple years, however, a cumulative anger has emerged among minority groups that feel oppressed and targeted. Rodrigo Abd’s photograph speaks great volumes for a cause that is currently a focal point of American politics. 

Undoubtedly, this photograph does much more than simply share a moment captured, but rather represents a very significant issue in society. It is very easy for one to look at a photo like this and make a claim about someone trying to hide from the police. However, an image such as this one needs to be analyzed with a much keener eye, evaluated in all aspects for one to truly recognize the big picture. It is fair to say that police officers as a whole in the United States have been given a bad stature, but time after time these incidents keep occurring. It is clear that something needs to be done in order to fix this problem, and perhaps the next President of the United States will implement policy to assist in this ongoing project. Despite this sheer sense of hope many might have, as we can see from Abd’s photograph, the tension between citizens and police officers remains a high profile topic that garners attention worldwide. 
