A picture is worth a thousand words, right? Well how about a series of pictures recreating a memory of a past birthday experience where the crossover over to adulthood is clearly marked. The purpose of this photo essay is to narrate and visually describe the importance of ones eighteenth birthday, and how people choose to spend it. Some people are given chances to grow up earlier than they need to and others choose to never grow up. On the instance of your eighteenth birthday society now holds you legally responsible for all of your actions apart from your parent’s influence. Which is why I find the title of this photo essay so relatable and open to interpretation. “First Decision Made as an Adult,” is referring to one’s celebration of their eighteenth birthday, and in this instance trusting a stranger with her life as they plummet fourteen thousand feet to the ground. The significance of the skydiving activity incudes the responsibility, waivers, and the fact that skydiving is something you cannot do until you are eighteen, even with parent permission. In the beginning of this photo essay, there are two instances where children are used to express emotion, scenic photos spread throughout, and others to ensure the competence of the storyline. 

As a photo essay about making ones first decision as an adult, the use of images with children really stands out. This could be for one of two reasons, the fact that the girl still feels like a child on the inside or is questioning her decision as an adult. The readers can evaluate this and see an eighteen-year girl who is still immature and just wanted to jump out of a plane for the image of it, and not think about that consequences that could come. On the other hand, it is a clear division when the images of children stop and that is right after the girl is in the state of free falling. With that since this was the first decision made of her adult life, the child in her was questioning the decision until the girl actually followed through with it. Once the girl actually jumped out of the plane it became finalized, and there was no going back to the childish ways. This could also be seen in the next emotion picture being represented through a parachute image instead of a child. Yes, this was a big decision to make and it happened to be the first decision this girl ever made as a legal adult, which is why the uncertainty is completely understandable. That one leap of faith though made it clear she was ready for it, even if she wasn’t sure herself. This is because the smile on her face in all the images of her falling fourteen thousand feet and the sense of accomplishment afterwards portrayed in the photo of her and the man smiling with their thumbs up.

Another source of positivity comes from the bright colors seen throughout the photo essay. As the viewer scrolls through the presentation the colors get more defining, and has a larger presence in the story line. The first instance of this is seen in image two when two bright flashes of orange and red stand over the ground in the distance. This helps the reader separate the action of falling and the fear of what could be. More strongly it is seen that all the jumpers, including those who are trained, are wearing these bright colored jumpsuits to create a sense of positivity and excitement. Just imagine if the suits were a dark and ugly color, as a first time jumper would not help the experience at all. In fact, might hinder the experience one wishes to have. It is proven by psychologists that the presence of bright and joyful colors help keep the mind stable and positively stimulated. These are the small factors that could all go into ones skydiving experience. Next, image number six is not only important for the way it provides the safeness but the way the sun light peers through this bug eyed view photo. The universal sign of security and a job well done, the thumbs up, is the main focus of this photo as the background consists of a tandem jump safely falling with their parachute up. This simmering light comes into play to resemble the accomplishment, and the sense of weather that day. Along with the bright colors, sunlight and weather contributes to all the factors of keeping a positive mindset. 

The organization of such a photo essay is key to keeping the storyline in tack. Also with the use of minimal words the author has left much room for interpretation on these images and why they were placed where they were. However, after examining these images closely it all makes sense, the use of emotions alternating in the very beginning is to inform the reader of the shift in emotions and tension. It is fairly understandable that fear, pictured in the first image, is the main emotion to be feeling when one is about to go skydiving for the first time. Right after the image of fear, the first scenery image is presented to represent the start of the skydive. Once in the air it seems like the fun has started because of the use of excitement in the following picture and the smile shown free falling. These alternating images of emotions and scenery are extremely helpful to understand both the time of the skydive and the emotions being felt at that time. After free falling, nothing but anxiety was felt in fear of the parachute being broken or not even coming out. It was creative thought to use an image of a parachute for the emotion of anxiety. This is because instead of just getting a source of emotion or the time placement, the reader is getting both in the same image. After all the fear, excitement, and anxiety the thumbs up pictured is a feeling of safeness and control. Once the parachute got up it was a clear ride down from there, can all be referred by the thumbs up. Finally, on the ground there is an image of the girl who we can assume just turned eighteen and the man who “kept her alive.” In this image the reader gets to see the man who was trusted with this girl’s life, and how happy they both seem to be. The last image used wraps up the entirety of the photo essay to relate it back to the title of it as well. 

In conclusion, a photo essay first seen as a story can be pulled apart to be much more than the surface. The overall purpose can be described as ones sense of accomplishment, and the story behind it. The underlining purpose of this can easily be determined as one’s celebration of their eighteenth birthday, and the responsibility that follows. Keeping in mind the little details this photo essay has successfully remained relatable to all in an unbiased format. It’s time to think. Should you take the leap of faith?