The Image Deconstructed Assignment_Ramirez

Photo Credit: Kyle Grantham- Staff photographer at the Casper Star-Tribune in Casper, Wyoming. 

The image I chose from the Image, Deconstructed website is a photo of a firefighter carrying a young girl out of a burning building. The photo was taken by Kyle Grantham, staff photographer at the Casper Star-Tribune in Casper, Wyoming.

The reason I chose this photo is because it was a powerful image but a sensitive issue. I think the photographer made an excellent point addressing this issue.  He said that shooting such sensitive scenes with family and friends around can be a difficult situation but it’s a way to get the story and message out. In this case, it’s important to keep fire alarms in the building in case of a fire.  

What surprised me the most about the photo was how young the girl was and how she wasn't the only person trapped in the fire. The photographer mentioned that they ran with a photo of a woman who was also carried out of a fire but later died in the hospital. Posting this photo created overwhelming negative responses to the photographer and newspaper. It makes me wonder what if the photo of the young girl was in the newspaper. What kind of reaction would the community have, especially if she died?

I learned that it’s important to be ready in any situation to snap a photo, you could never be too prepared especially in a situation like a fire. Expect the unexpected.