The idea of diversity is critical to any environment, and this image does a great job of illustrating the importance of being different. The splash of color and compactness of the fish represent much more than just an ecosystem. This picture demonstrates Oscar Wilde’s concept of “being yourself because everyone else is taken” throughout: color, spacing and scale. 

When one first looks at this image, likely the first impression is the wide array of color. Color is crucial to pictures as they allow us to visually enjoy, and for those who like to consider the “deeper” aspects of an image, colors help “paint” the picture. One may look at this picture and simply think there are just a few colors (blue, green, yellow, etc.), yet that is not the case. For each color is a different shade, whether it be the Royal blue of the “Dory” fish or the Oxford blue of the ocean, there are differences. And in society, there are no humans who are exactly alike. It could be something as simple as height/weight, or as complex as religious views/education. There are also underlying themes to each color in this picture which reinforce the theme of this image. Blue can represent tranquility and productivity, and in this image the serenity of the ocean and the life of the coral reef are examples of this. The ocean is vast and will forever amaze scientists due to the fact that most likely we will never know everything that inhabits the water, and the reefs of the ocean are bright with color, signifying the health/prosperity of the fish that inhabit said reefs. In the world we live in, calmness and productivity are key to healthy lives. No matter the circumstance, we must remain calm, for overreacting does nothing beneficial, and we must work towards success due to the fact that we live on the same planet, so we might as well contribute to that planet’s well-being. Another prominent color is green which represents safety and harmony. Every society wants to be safe, and in the picture, the size of the school of fish along with the large reef illustrate the safety/well-being of the group (it’s likely not a coincidence that some fish and the reef are green). The fish also seem to be in harmony as they all swim right on top of each other, yet there are no signs of conflict, and the reef is large enough to provide for the group. Without harmony societies would collapse, so we must strive to live pleasantly together, for the power of a strong community cannot be defeated. Lastly, yellow “pops out” in this photo and symbolizes liveliness. This is a very bright picture, and the yellow is the first color I noticed, and I would imagine that is true for most viewers. A key component of a happy society is to be energetic as energy is contagious, so if one person is excited to live another day more will be eager also. The array of colors in this picture does much more than bring life to the image, for it is crucial in proving how each member of a society is different, and how our differences lead to a productive society. 