In the past week or so, Hurricane Matthew has made its way up from the islands of the Bahamas, Haiti, Jamaica, and so on. A category 4 hurricane, Matthew has done an unimaginable amount of damage to these small paradises. Being one of the most powerful storms to hit in about a decade, many news stations have made an immense effort to cover the story. BBC, among others, is known for their updates on current events. Having provided day by day updates on the storm, including photos, the BBC has shared the mass devastation with the world. These pictures are not only honest depictions of what it is like to be hit with such a natural disaster, but are also preparing the people of the east coast of the U.S. for what is coming. The BBC’s updates have been mainly focused on Jamaica and Haiti the past few days, which I have found interesting because the islands are known for being bright and happy. However, this past week, Matthew has proven otherwise. The BBC’s photographs of the suffering in Haiti and Jamaica can be interpreted by any viewer, but in particular can be broken down by their realism, the use of colors, shadows, and symbols, and also by the perspective the photo is taken from. These aspects can assist one in interpreting these photos found on the BBC updates and can contribute to the similar themes of the photos. By looking at the movement of the figures in the photos, we can see that both are struggling to survive and escape the disaster of Hurricane Matthew. This is important because it is a representation of the communal struggle that the people of Haiti will have to endure in order to recover from the disaster. 

In BBC’s October 5th update, the two images that struck me the most were both of young boys. The first one was of a boy, possibly in his teen years, struggling down a street with water levels above the knee. The second photo was also of a young boy, around age 7 or 8, with arms full of a bright yellow backpack and a bright pink teddy bear. Both of these photos tug at the viewer’s heart strings because both boys are alone, making their way down an unknown path. The idea of realism in both of these photos is similar in that the person viewing the picture may not have the same experience or feeling as the one in the picture, or the person taking the picture. In other words, the viewer of the photo will empathize with the situation because of how authentic this event is and how authentic this representation is. 

Not only does photography of natural disasters share the tragedy with the world but also has a message to convey. Whether it be pictures of a hurricane or another medium of art, each has different aspects to help the viewer understand what it is trying to portray. Specifically, the coloring of the first image of the adolescent boy is dull, dark and obsolete. The Caribbean is known for being such a bright and colorful place, however the buildings in this photo are faded and flimsy. The run-down buildings suggest a lifestyle in poverty, so the storm hitting did not do anything to improve that. The shadows of the houses are cast over the flooded water, so the only noticeable part of the road is where the shadows do not reach. This lit up part of the water appears as a path, which symbolizes this boy’s journey ahead of him. There is nothing around and nowhere to move but forward, following the light path. The boy is fighting through the knee deep water and the darkness of the storm to move to a safer place – a place of light. The shadows represent the darkness of the storm and the violence, and the boy is only following the light to find safety. 

As important as coloring of an image is, perspective gives viewers another way to think of the image itself. The photographer captures this moment in the midst of the hurricane from behind the boy to show that the boy is working towards what is ahead, and is trying to leave what has happened behind. His full path is shown ahead, for what he is working for rather than what he had to go through. The focus of the camera is on the boy, and the damage seen around him shows that the storm was much bigger than he. His bright clothing draws the viewer’s attention and makes the viewer want to follow him and encourage him on this journey to safety. 

The second picture that the BBC provided of the young boy struck me as important as well. The young boy, by himself, carrying all of his belongings is a very sad one. The color of his bright teddy bear and vivid backpack stand out and catch the viewer’s eye. It contributes to the honesty of the picture, giving viewers a surreal feel as if they can feel the experience with the boy. While it is gloomy and dark, the boy’s innocence can be seen and how he must carry his own at the time of the storm. Although we as viewers do not know his history, family background, or true age, it can be understood that the boy is young and may be carrying his only belongings that stand for symbols for his whole life. As a young individual, he has his whole life ahead of him, whether it be only with his backpack and teddy bear or much more than that. This also tugs at the viewer’s heart strings because every individual is given their life to make decisions, to grow, and to thrive as their own human being. No one chooses for these natural disasters to happen to them or the ones they love, but they have to find the strength to bear what has and what will happen to them. In the background of the photo, all of the damage done by Matthew is visible. There are roof particles and other debris, signifying the violence and severity of the storm. The debris is such a symbol for the storm overall, and how the boy has just walked through, and even lived through all of that. 

The perspective of the second photo also shows a boy, and differs from the first picture in its point of view. This picture shows the view from the front of the boy and is more zoomed in than the first picture, only showing the child with a slight peripheral view. The child, making his way down such a messy road, is the only thing visible to the observer. This view point is important because it is standing for what the child is leaving behind. He is abandoning what just happened to the life he knew and is looking for what is ahead for him – similar to the boy in photograph one. Although different perspectives, both boys are in a similar state of distress. Since the viewer is on the front side of the boy, it is almost as if we are able to encourage the boy to continue forward, away from the danger and away from the debris. 

In conclusion, Hurricane Matthew started strong in the Caribbean and is about to make its mark on the east coast of the U.S. As a whole, the people of the southeast can only pray that the devastation is nowhere near as horrific as it was in the Caribbean – Jamaica and Haiti to be exact pertaining to these photos. By breaking down each photo to further understand it, the aspects of realism, the importance of colors, shadows, and symbols, and the use of perspective contribute to the overall interpretation of a picture. By focusing in on these two boys in the photos, the viewer is able to bear the weight of the devastation experienced by the community in Haiti and Jamaica. Although they are young, the two boys are only small representations of the overall suffering experienced by the people of the Caribbean – which can help others understand that they too bear the weight of devastation. 
