The photo essay created by Walker Adamson depicts a trip of a lifetime on the Island of Bimini, Bahamas. Adamson arranges nine images within the photo essay in a somewhat chronological to show the progression of the trip the island of Bimini, Bahamas.  The arrangement, captions, and images themselves have similar detailed meanings behind them, when seen from a different perspective. The trip was so much more than just one last hoorah with the boys. The close reading of this visual text made it clear that this was no “last hoorah”, but a “first hoorah”. In Adamson’s photo essay he uses colors, camera angles, and emotional expressions to not only inform the audience of this incredible trip, but to also also convey an overall theme of lifelong friendships.

Adamson uses images that at first glance spark joy and adventure into the audiences eyes. The visual text starts with an image of the flag of the Bahamas. The background is black and the letter coloring matches the countries national colors which are symbolized on the flag. The color black represents the strength and will power of the people, yellow the sandy beaches, and the aquamarine blue symbolizes the Caribbean Sea. As seen throughout the photo essay, these colors appear later on and correlate back with the first image of the flag.

The following image within the visual text shows where Bimini, Bahamas is located on a map. Adamson does this to not only show where the island is on a map but to also give the audience an idea of how small it is. As seen, Bimini is the closest Bahamian Island to the United States. The next image was taken using Adamson’s phone. The photo is taken from the back of the airplane. The audience can really get a feel for how tight and confined the plane was. The passengers are having to strain to turn around to even get a look at the camera for the shot. Adamson is sitting on the right side closest to the camera. His knee is fully blocking the aisle while he twists around. His smile is sorta uneasy probably because the plane is probably not nearly as steady as a commercial airline. This image gives off uneasy yet excited emotions. Adamson uses a wide angle shot to capture the entire island of Bimini from a birds eye view. The audience can now clearly see how small the actual island is from 3,000 feet. The colors of the flag can also be connected to this image. The color of the water truly does match the aquamarine color in the flag from image one.

The fifth image is a panoramic picture taken by Adamson from the top of the house that he stayed in. Through the use of the a panoramic lens, the audience can really get a personal point of view of the landscape of Bimini. The following image correlates with the birds eye view image of the island taken from a plane. The image itself is simple and the caption explains it well. Short and sweet; “escape reality”. The task of escaping reality in todays society can be daunting. The image was meant to give the audience the notion that on the Island of Bimini the only sounds were of turquoise water rolling over conch shell beaches. Image four and six are meant to focus the audiences emotions on isolation and peace. The birds eye view image connects to the beach shot by showing how obsolete, desolate, and tiny the island truly is. An ideal escape from the real world.

Adamson uses image seven as a pivotal, personal point of reference to the overall theme of lasting friendship. As the audience can see, there are seven guys on the bow of a boat with big smiles on their faces. These seven are linked shoulder to shoulder with Adamson in the middle-left. Closely reading this image alone may make the theme of this photo essay clear. The smiles and touching shoulders between these seven guys expresses unconditional friendship. Adamson also uses this image in a celebratory manner. The audience should feel a genuine, warm and loyal vibe after viewing image seven. Life as well as friendship is too amazing not to celebrate and this image does just that.

The next image of is of the SS Samoan, which is a concrete-hulled cargo steamer that ran aground near Bimini during a hurricane in 1926. This image was taken from a boat floating in front of the bow of the ship to give the reader a glimpse of the actual size of the ship from the water. The SS Samoan just happened to run a ground in a perfect location between Bimini and Miami. Smugglers once used it as a warehouse for alcohol during the era of Prohibition. The close reading of this image expresses amusement, isolation, and bonding all in one image. There was a rope ladder set up on the side of the ship so that people who aren't afraid of heights can have fun by leaping off the very front of the ship. Isolation was captured through this photo as well because there is just this abandoned rusted out ship sitting in the middle of the Caribbean. 

The correlation with the main theme of friendship came from leaping off the tip of the SS Sapona and bonding over fear. 

The final image within this Adamson photo essay almost goes without having to say anything without any pun intended. The image itself says it all without even having to say anything at all. The photo was taken on Adamson’s phone from a boat. The image combines isolation, celebration, happiness, and most of all friendship in one signatory, conclusive picture. Adamson has his arms raised up in the air as he soaks in the sun surrounded by aquamarine water. The image was meant to be conclusive and simple. The caption, “nothing but smiles and sunshine”, says it all. All nine of these images tied together to form the overall theme of unconditional, real, lifelong friendships. The concluding image expresses the realization of knowing that this was not the last hoorah, but that those seven guys will be lifelong friends.
