Picture essays are a visual way to convey a message or meaning using very few words. These essays consist of various pictures that contain different visual elements designed to inform, narrate, describe, or argue upon an event, place, thing, or being. Each image is chosen for a specific reason and has characteristics that help further the story of the essay. In the Dale Earnhardt Image Essay, the images have different shots, sizes, and views to inform the viewer on the love nascar fans have for the great Dale Earnhardt even after his horrific crash that ended his life on the last lap of the 2001 Daytona 500.

In the Dale Earnhardt Image Essay, many different shots were used to help inform the viewer on the event in the essay. The first image of the essay consists of a large extreme close up of dale along with a smaller close up inside. The extreme close up of his face serves the purpose to establish the main focus of the piece; Dale Earnhardt. In the picture he is wearing sun glasses and sporting a wide grin. This shows the happiness that he is experiencing at the time the picture was taken. In the reflection of the sunglasses you can see a checkered black and white patterned ground. This is the floor of victory lane. This picture gives the feeling that Dale is always a winner because the checkered pattern almost appears like it is made into his dark black sun glasses. The smaller close up inside the main picture allows more to be seen. Here you can see the most of the top of his race suit which just further demonstrates that he is a Nascar driver. Once again he is smiling giving the impression that success is common. He is also wearing the same dark black sun glasses. These pictures do a good job of showing how Dale was. He looks tough and mysterious. His image is one of the ways he received his very popular nickname. The “Intimidator”. In the second and final picture, long shots are used. The second picture contains others inside, but the largest one shows a full view of part of the race track and many of the cars on it. This long shot establishes the setting and at the head of all the cars is Dale Earnhardt's black number 3. Being able to see all of the other race cars and Dale’s at the front helps display his dominance in the sport. The biggest image in the final part of the essay is also a long shot. This is used to show the vastness of the grandstands and how everyone in them is showing their love and respect for dale Earnhardt. The fans closest to where the image is taking are holding up three fingers in his honor. as the stands move further and further away you can see that everyone else for as far as you can see is doing the same. This helps drive home the message of how beloved Dale Earnhardt still is to the sport of Nascar.

The images also differ in sizes. This helps shine the focus on some of the more important pictures. The second to last photo is the only single full size photo in the entire essay. This is because it is one of the most crucial and important events. The image is depicting the crash that was ultimately fatal for Dale Earnhardt. The image being large and alone makes it stand out and all of your focus is directed to that picture and that one only. No other photos are cropped in taking attention away from the crash. This photo being the only lone photo also emphasizes how important this one event is. The death of Dale Earnhardt was shocking to the nascar community and led to the mourning of thousands. Smaller images also serve a purpose in the essay. The smaller images inside the third picture serve to reinforce the main image. The fans showing their love and support for Dale after he won his first Daytona 500 is coupled with every crew member congratulating dale on pit road. All of these images come together to really show the love everyone, even the opposing teams, had for the Intimidator.

To also enhance meaning and to inform the viewers, different views for the images are used. In the first image, the view is eye to eye. This allows for a more personal feeling and connection with Dale. You can really see the expression on his face which really emphasizes his emotion. In the image that depicts his death crash, a birds-eye type view is used. Looking from above, you can see all the cars involved in the accident and get the full perspective on what is happening. You can see Dale and Ken Schrader in the 36 in the wall as the other cars try and avoid. Being that the image is a birds-eye view, nothing is obstructing the accident. Other cars are not in front obscuring the cars involved. Another birds-eye view is seen in the last image of all of the fans in the grandstands. Being up above the fans allows for a clear view of the whole front stretch. You are able to see not only the vastness of the track and seating but also all of the fans who are paying tribute to dale. This is key in getting the message of love the fans had for Dale to the viewer of the picture essay.

The Dale Earnhardt Photo essay is designed to inform the audience about the greatness of Dale along with the pure love for him held by all involved in the sport of Nascar. Each image serves a specific purpose in conveying that message and different photo styles and techniques also help emphasize and drive home that message. Things like varying shots and different photo sizes along with alternating views all come together to create one informative photo essay. 