Response To Diane Arbus

 The image here is very clear with a lot of natural light, which automatically gives a good color balance between the child and the shadowing of the tree's/sky in the background. Although there isn;t much color in it, once again the sunlight provides the necessary contrast needed.

The child is placed in the center of the photo, yet close up to shift your focus to him over the rest of the objects. The look of the photo in general and the clothes of the child shows it to be placed in an earlier century, where pictures aren't digital and people don't walk around with hand grenades. The fact that the child is holding that item could also depict the image during a time of war. The picture seems simple, but the look and actions of the boy give off the feeling that the environment is unsafe, and his facial expressions seems to show fear. The way his hand is strongly curled also depicts those feelings. With only one overall on and dirt on his knees one could assume the boy may be poor compared to the family going for a walk in the park behind him.

At first the picture doesn't really seem strong, but once you see the weapon in the child's hand it intrigues you to examine it closer. The image could create a strong reaction to people who would object to the grenade, thinking it shouldn't be in the hands of someone so young. Seeing the grenade could also give off a sense of having to be on guard. The child being the one holding it is effective and shows war or less fortunate times in an unusual way.