The text and photograph titled “Ferguson, Uncensored” by Tim Dickinson is a clear depiction of the issues with racial injustice and police brutality that are prevalent in today’s world.  The picture was captured in the town of Ferguson, Missouri after an 18-year-old unarmed boy, Michael “Mike-Mike” Brown was shot and killed.  This incident caused an uproar in the quiet town, which in turn then triggered more brutal events to follow.  The photograph is titled “Ferguson, Uncensored” because it was one of only a few images that did not get censored before getting released to the public.  The visual and textual evidence used by Dickinson creates a motif of violence, resulting from the issues of police brutality and racial injustice in Ferguson, Missouri and throughout our country.  Dickinson’s use of specific focus, precise editing techniques, and distinctive colors in both the background and weather strengthens the power of this photograph tremendously.  

Dickinson uses specific focus to emphasize the cruelty and aggression of the police to add overall intensity to his photograph.  At first glance, this image is extremely powerful, but the meaning is only strengthened when one digs deeper beyond the surface.  The first example of specific focus is centering the policemen in the image. The fully armed police covered in layers of protection such as masks, bullet proof vests, and helmets is chilling considering the boy is just simply an unarmed, surrendering African-American child who is standing alone.  The excessive amount of protection that the police were wearing compared to the young boy is extremely unfair as compared to the boy.  Secondly, one of the officers to the far right is actually pointing his gun at the child, while the child responds with a “hands up, don’t shoot” motion.  Lastly, the photographer focuses the camera in a way to capture the boy to the far left of the photo while centering the officers in order to show the amount of officers who seem to be slowly closing in on the child.  Dickinson’s use of specific focus stresses the theme of violence. 

Not only did the specific focusing of the camera add to the extreme uneasiness of the situation, the photographer also uses editing techniques to heighten the violence. The first editing technique noted was that of fading.  The fading on the left side of the photo, which seems to be getting stronger as it progresses to the right, focuses the view on the officers once again.  Dickinson puts focus on the policemen to emphasize the unfair advantage that they had on the young, helpless boy. Secondly, the photographer uses zooming as an editing technique to provide an up close view to get a more personal outlook.  Lastly, Dickinson uses a brightening editing technique to overemphasize the redness in the background. His use of editing alters the photo in such a way that the boy is victimized and completely helpless.

As a supplement to the highlighting of the powerlessness of the boy and the dominance of the policemen, Dickinson uses distinctive color in the background to again point out the gruesome situation.  He uses the red colored walls in the background of the picture to symbolize danger, anger, and the overall motif of the photograph.  The motif depicted is clearly one of appalling violence.  The symbol is significant to the photograph because the African-American boy is indeed now vulnerable and in a life-threatening situation.  The red color could also signify blood if the policemen were to act on the threat.  Dickinson’s use of the color red visibly emphasizes the sickening circumstance.

In addition to the color red used by Dickinson, he uses colors in the weather as well as graffiti to add to the theme of violence in the photograph. The gloomy, dismal color of the sky enhances a depressing atmosphere, thus intensifying the young boy’s fearful and pitiful demeanor.  The eerie color of the sky draws attention to the sadness.  The graffiti written on the post office box speaks for itself, in that it shows the real issue of opposition between the African-American boys versus the law enforcement in the town of Ferguson.  The graffiti clearly states, “F*$! the police” which makes the constant antagonism so evident. Dickinson’s use of color in the weather and the use of graffiti clearly depicts the unfortunate conditions faced by the African American children in Ferguson and around the world.

In conclusion, after further analyzing the photograph and realizing the deeper meaning, the issues of racial injustice and police brutality are now obviously visible.  The problematic concern with police brutality seems to be never ending.  Incidents like the one in this picture, along with many similar situations around the world have forced the pleasant people in the once quiet town of Ferguson, Missouri into a complete state of utter shock, confusion, and frantic rage.  Sadly, the public was not being informed of these events because the photographs were being censored before being released into the public.  The photo titled “Ferguson, Uncensored” is one, however, that as titled, is indeed uncensored and was released by a brave photographer who uses specific focus, editing skills, and distinct color (in the background and in the weather) in order to allow viewers to see just how horrifying the situation had gotten there.  In Ferguson, Missouri and around the world, police brutality and racial injustice has completely gotten out of control.