This image may be viewed as controversial because of the fire in the background and the three children sitting pretty close to it. The kids on their own look very innocent, the one sitting closest to the camera is even holding a doll. Yet they are all looking at a large fire in the background which clearly is not safe and there doesn’t seem to be any adults around to keep the children safe/put out the fire. This photograph is interesting because although the background is more blurred than the three girls, the girls are not entirely in focus either. I think this adds a bit more mystery to the photograph because it makes the viewer really have to look hard to see every detail in the image. Despite the controversial facts that this photo shows three young girls near a large fire, I think this photograph is really interesting and powerful because although I don’t know the full story behind this picture I think it raises an interesting point that kids are vulnerable and innocent and sometimes adults can’t be there to take care of them or tell them (to move farther away from the fire or put out the fire).
Good discussion of how the image is powerful yet problematic and controversial.