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 Samantha Nelson’s photo essay, First Decision Made as an Adult, is to narrate and visually describe the importance of one’s 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 an eighteenth birthday society now holds an individual legally responsible for all future actions apart from your parent’s influence. Which is why 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 if parent permission is given. In the beginning of this photo essay, there are two instances where children are used to express emotion in which it correlates the connection to childhood and approval. Also included are scenic photos spread throughout to enhance the reader’s visualization of the act of skydiving, and others to ensure the competence of the storyline. 

As a photo essay about making one’s first decision as an adult, the use of images with children are dominantly placed. 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, meaning “because it’s cool”, 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. With the parachute showing the “jump” into adulthood. 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 confirmed by the smile on her face in all of 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. The thumbs up is an universal sign of assurance, which the reader is given by the end of the photo essay.

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 as well as a source of visibility from others. Just imagine if the suits were a dark and ugly color, as a first time jumper it would not help the experience at all. In fact, might hinder the experience one wishes to have. It is proven that the presence of bright and joyful colors helps keep the mind stable and positively stimulated. These are the small factors that could all go into ones skydiving experience. The next source of bright imagery comes in image number six. It is not only important for the way it provides the safeness but the way the sun light peers through this bug eyed view photo. This sunlight could have a deeper meaning of the bright future for this girl to come. For the decision to skydive is not a small one, which shows the confidence and self-awareness of this young girl. Assuring the success of the jump, 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 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 felt 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. The photo excitement can be directly correlated with the adrenaline rush one gets from such an event. 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. The image representing fear and anxiety, allows the reader to identify what exactly the girl fears during the jump and the time sequence of the jump. 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. Reassuring the audience, the emotions felt after the jump is complete. The last image used wraps up the entirety of the photo essay to relate it back to the title of it as well. As the original theme behind this photo essay was one eighteenth birthday and the transition to adult hood. 

In conclusion, a photo essay first seen as a story can be pulled apart to be much more than what’s presented on surface. The overall purpose can be described as one’s 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 becoming an adult. 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?
