Often times, many people feel more connected to something, such as an article, and realize the deeper meaning when they truly analyze a picture that goes along with it.  There are many different aspects within an image that can help the audience better understand what is happening.  The image produced by Adam McCauley, in the article ‘Pondering Miracles, Medical and Religious’ from The New York Times, has such a deep meaning that most people need to try to understand at one point or another.  By looking at color and symbols, we see the importance of faith, health, and positivity, which tells us to never give up even during our toughest struggles in life. 

This vivid image goes along with a wonderful article written by Jacalyn Duffin.  The audience cannot fully understand what is going on in the image without a little bit of background information given in the article.  Duffin wrote this piece to talk about a female patient that was diagnosed with acute myelogenous leukemia.  According to this article this disease has a median survival rate with treatment of about eighteen months.  Against all odds, this particular patient, even after a relapse, was still living fourty years after her sample marrows had been drawn.  Seems like a miracle, right?  The narrator seemed to think so as well and could not scientifically prove any reason as to why the patient was still living.  For many people medicine goes hand-in-hand with religion and faith.

The color in any image plays a huge role in helping the audience see and understand what is happening. It can also help give the article a deeper meaning.  In this image, the color yellow tells a lot.  Often times the color yellow gives off a sense of sickness, and that is very much present in this reading.  However, this vibrant color does not only stand for something so upsetting, but it can also give a sense of warmth and calmness.  When someone is going through a tough situation, especially a medical circumstance, they are typically placed somewhere that has calming colors.  Yellow is often times one of these calming colors.  Whenever an individual feels like there is no hope left for them, which can sometimes happen during sickness, they can become cold-hearted and negative. If and when this happens, they just need something to remind them who they really are and how to become warm again. Yellow seems to be able to help many people do this and can do so without them even realizing it has that effect on them. Positivity and happiness can also be seen in the color yellow.  This article mentions miracles taking place for this particular patient and many others which is a very positive outlook considering everything that they were going through.  For the reader, this is a bright and uplifting moment and can allow them to reflect on the true story of those they are reading about. Despite the unlikely circumstances for these patients with acute myelogenous leukemia, they still had an extremely positive outlook with their health and faith.  The color yellow in this image was more than likely meant to stand for the qualities previously talked about; sickness but also warmth, calming, positivity and happiness.

As mentioned, color has a large impact on how the audience interprets the image.  Yellow can have a deep effect on the meaning of the image, but black can also impact the significance of it.  The person praying and the beaker are outlined in black to exemplify the medical and religious aspect of this article.  This particular color can represent fear, power, and mystery.  With sickness comes the unknown of what is going to happen and that can be frightening for most people.  These two symbols are outlined in black to define the power of medicine and religion.  The color black helps the audience determine the deeper meaning behind the symbols in McCauley’s image.

Color gives the audience a sense of significance; however, the symbols may portray a deeper explanation for those reading the article.  Some people may be able to relate to the symbols presented.  The audience sees three different symbols in the picture; the person praying, the beaker, and the sun.  These images were chosen to show the significance in the title ‘Pondering Miracles, Medical and Religious.’

The first symbol that I noticed when looking at this picture was the person praying.  This is a symbol for religion and faith.  A lot of people turn to their religion and what they believe in during times of struggle.  It is also believed by many that praying can lead to miracles which were mentioned during this article.  This particular symbol is very predominate; however, it is not the only one present.  The figure behind the person praying is the beaker.  This represents medicine and the effect it has on those who are facing an illness.  Typically, when someone is diagnosed with a type of cancer, they first pray then go through treatment to try to heal.  Medicine is an important factor if one wants to make progress during sickness.  The image of the sunshine is behind both of the other symbols but is shining strong and through them.  This represents the positivity and hope the patients should have after putting so much into their religion and medicine.  Symbols express a deeper meaning that people whom are facing a sickness or disease might need to keep them going and let them know that they too have meaning. 

McCauley’s image portrayed a significant meaning that was expressed through color and symbols.  The colors yellow and black worked with the symbols of a person praying, a beaker, and a sunshine to help the readers realize the importance of faith, health, and positivity.  Images can sometimes say what words cannot and also help the audience to better understand what the reading is trying to say. This was seen in Duffins article ‘Pondering Miracles, Medical and Religious.’ After all, a picture is worth a thousand words. 
