
The strength of the ocean is often underestimated, far too often people do not use caution when gauging the oceans power, “It is believed that hurricanes have killed approximately 1.9 million people over the past 200 years” (Rinkesh).  The fact that it covers over seventy percent of the earth’s surface, and is less explored than the moon is baffling. At times the ocean is placid but overnight it can turn into some people’s worst nightmare. The same place that is a beloved vacation spot produces powerful storms that are uncontrollable. Everyday humans attempt to ride the swells created by the ocean and risk their lives by entering the water. In a photograph taken by Jimmy Wilson of a professional surfer enjoying a moment of beauty, epitomizes the fact that the ocean is unpredictable and ever changing. In this piece, the photographer uses focus and blur along with color in order to make the surfers position on the wave the focal point and show the viewer how the surfer is riding the fine line between danger and safety. 

This photo has many elements that are used by the photographer to create a feeling of peacefulness, but also leaves the viewer with a sense of uneasiness. This feeling partially comes from the artists use of blur and focus in the area surrounding the surfer in the center of the photograph. Where the surfer is positioned on the wave, he is directly in the pocket of the wave, between the curl and the open face. On the right side is the calmer side of the wave, with the open face and the glassy surface ready to be ridden. This face is in focus and the details of it are clear. Here is where the sense of serenity comes from. It is the calm before the storm. With the focus the photographer uses, it highlights the surfer and how he is still on the safe portion of the wave. While the surfer is in control in the time the photograph is taken viewers can observe how he is on the only section of calm throughout the scene. Here he is out of harm’s way and gazing towards his path along the safe region of the swell, however his mind is not on the impending danger behind him. In the span of a few seconds this stretch of wave that was once smooth will turn into the curl and froth of the left side. 

The contrast of the focus on the calm on the right side with the blur and motion of the left is sharp. Behind the surfer, the wave crashes and turns over many times before churning all the way up to the beach. This is the most dangerous part of any swell. Falling into this results in being subject to the waves unprejudiced strength. Being at the mercy of the wave is a scary feeling because even the strongest swimmers are unable to break out of its grasp.  Here the photographer lets the motion of the wave create a blur leaving the eye to see the danger directly behind the subject of the photo. Along with the danger behind the surfer, what is left of wave that passed before is still rumbling its way towards shore. The angle at which the photograph was taken with makes it seem as if he is riding directly on top of it. Now the danger is not only behind him but also directly below him, making it even more dangerous. However in the surfers perspective he is safe because the wave is not actually below him, this is similar to how people often do not perceive the dangers around us while they are happening and can often only be seen from an outside perspective. With these elements holding the viewers focus in this area, it helps to conceptualize how thin this border between safety and the hazard that lies on the other side. 

Along with the contrast of focus and blur that Wilson uses to create the awareness of the surfer tiptoeing along the border between refuge and peril, he also uses the colors that nature provided to further highlight how the surfer is as close to safety as he is to his own demise. From the top of the photo where the soft orange and light blue colors in the sky leave the audience with a view of an overcast yet peaceful sunset. This causes the havoc that is occurring below in the ocean escape one’s awareness. As the gaze shifts to the lower third of the photo the water gets progressively darker, hinting again at the danger that is present. Beginning at the top of the wave the shade of blue is light and even eye-catching, the flash of bright blue at the crest of the wave continues to draw the attention to this section of the photo. 

Lower however the light blue of the actual wave turns somber and murky quickly. By the time the eye reaches the immediate foreground the ocean is nearly black. The layers of color schemes within the piece are similar to Christianity’s ideal of how humans reside below heaven and above hell. The sky in the photo is heaven with serenity and promise, similar to the safety the surfer is riding towards. The actual wave resembles earth, as everything in motion happens there. Not far below the surfer is the depths of the ocean and the dark sea. With the ocean darkening beneath him and the danger it possesses, resembles of the idea of hell and the misery it is associated with.  Because of how quickly the scene changes from light to dark, it helps to illustrate how delicate the situation the surfer is in and how quickly it could go from comfortable to out of hand. 

This photo was taken in the Caribbean shortly before hurricane Matthew tore through the communities that this ocean surrounds. While the calm before the storm is often some of the best weather, it could change in a matter of hours and be the exact opposite. The way that this photo uses multiple elements to push the meaning of how close beauty and agony can be. Similar to how quickly the situation the surfer is in can go from pleasure to pain in a second the ocean is ever changing. In a way this entire photo is like the smooth face of the wave being rode, peaceful and unadulterated, because shortly after it turned into the same exact scene was demolished by one of the most destructive storms in recent history.
