The Starving Boy in Uganda Photograph by Mike Wells

Introduction

In the contemporary world, the problem of famine or starvation is often neglected due to its slight relevance in the First World countries. Nevertheless, food shortage is a serious issue in the African and Middle-East countries, particularly in the trying times of pandemics (Humanitarian Aid). The photograph by Mike Wells represents the terrors of the famine in the Karamoja region in Uganda that occurred in 1980. The current essay attempts to analyze the context of the picture, details of the image, and the message that the photograph conveys.

Context

Background of the Picture

As mentioned briefly before, the image was taken by Mike Wells in the Karamoja region in Uganda when severe hunger struck in 1980. Even compared to other developing countries, Uganda is one of the poorest nations and suffers from countless problems, such as poverty, corruption, and food shortage. The problem is further complicated by the fact that Uganda has no access to any water bodies, and the only upside is the growing success of agriculture (Agriculture in Uganda). Nevertheless, such dependence on domestic production is what might lead the country to severe famine in case of natural disasters. This is exactly what happened when drought initiated food shortages in the Karamoja region in 1978 (A Starving Boy and a Missionary). In two years, the famine has taken the lives of 21% of the population and has become the most severe hunger in history concerning the mortality rate (Uganda Famine). It demonstrates the degree of the threat that natural disasters might pose to the poor countries that rely heavily on domestic production.

Background of the Author

Consequently, to further comprehend the story of the image, it is essential to analyze the background of the photographer. The author of the picture is Mike Wells who was shooting for the Save the Children Fund of the United Kingdom focusing on the regions of Swaziland and Malawi (A Starving Boy and a Missionary). However, in 1980, Wells went to Uganda on a side trip and managed to take this photo that would shortly after win the World Press Photo Award (A Starving Boy and a Missionary). Nevertheless, the author never intended to enter the competition with the pictures depicting the terrors of the famine, and the publication agency decided to send the image on its own (A Starving Boy and a Missionary). Even though the author did not plan to compete, the current photograph has become famous and made a profound impact on society helping it realize the terrors that some people go through. Therefore, perhaps, it was for the better that the publication agency decided to share this image with the world.

Visual Details

The first detail that is instantly noticeable is the disturbing difference in the size of the hands. The palm of the missionary is about five times bigger than the one of the starving boy. Judging from the photograph alone, it is even not apparent whether the tiny hand belongs to a girl or a boy or maybe even a starved adult. This contrast looks ultimately surreal and one can hardly imagine that both palms belong to human beings. Nevertheless, it is an objective fact that both hands are indeed human limbs the difference is in the living conditions and the well-being of the two individuals. It is almost scary to think how different the situations concerning food, shelter, and water supplies are in various countries.

Another significant detail of the photograph is a highly distinct focus on the foreground of the image depicting the hands of the catholic missionary and the Ugandan boy. It clearly demonstrates the primary objectives of the photograph and further enhances the message it is trying to convey which is to show the drastic differences between the two worlds. In the background of the image, another African boy or a girl is standing implying that the missionary came up to a group of children. From the picture alone, it is complicated to guess the motives of the person, but one might guess that the group of missionaries came to assist the starving children, hence, explaining the close contact. Overall, all the visual details in the photograph emphasize the contrast between the two people depicted in the foreground.

Message

Through the photograph, Mike Wells has successfully conveyed the atmosphere of despair and fear of the starving population. While in the comfort of sufficient food and water supplies, most people do not realize the distinct differences in their living conditions compared to those suffering from hunger and poverty. The current image intends to clearly articulate this contrast making the public reflect on this terrible situation and potentially donate to the humanitarian foundations in the attempt to alleviate world hunger.

Furthermore, the message of the photo should not be underestimated since the problem of food shortages is still highly relevant in the present day. While it is not directly posing a threat to the First World countries, various regions in Africa and the Middle East are in imminent danger of famine (Humanitarian Aid). This situation is further complicated by the pandemic consequences and, according to the World Food Programme (WFP) Executive director David Beasley, this fight is far from over (Humanitarian Aid). It implies that the rising levels of food shortages in Africa and the Middle East are going to affect the whole world. David Beasley further adds that, while the overall net worth of billionaires exceeds $8 trillion, the WFP only needs $4.9 billion to save more than 30 million people from hunger (Humanitarian Aid). Therefore, he appeals for the world to unite and states, humanity is facing the greatest crisis any of us have seen in our lifetimes. (Humanitarian Aid). Ultimately, the current circumstances demonstrate that the photograph by Mike Wells is not just an abstract picture but rather the reality that millions of people are involved with.

Conclusion

In summing up, the current essay has investigated the context of the photograph the Starving boy in Uganda by Mike Wells, analyzed the visual details of the image, and interpreted the agenda behind it. Concerning the context, the photo was shot in Uganda in 1980 when a severe famine struck the nation and took the lives of more than 21% of the population. The visual details, such as the focus on the foreground, specifically emphasize the contrast between the hand of the missionary and the palm of the boy demonstrating the differences in the worlds they live in. Ultimately, the message put behind the photo is highly relevant today since the pandemic has severely hit the African and Middle-East countries, and more than 30 million people are in imminent danger of famine. Overall, the photo by Mike Wells is an excellent example of an artistic work that demonstrates the harsh reality of the world and makes people reflect on it.