Few images in our paper have elicited such heated response as the photo that ran on page 12 of the June 28 issue.

The photograph depicts a teenage girl smoking marijuana in the woods during an afternoon gathering with friends at Dumas Bay Park in Federal Way.

Admittedly, we knew what response we would receive when we decided to run the photo.

But after lengthy consideration, we felt the photograph carried too much visual impact to go unpublished.

The image shows a Federal Way teen engaging in a blatantly illegal act, and it offered a unique and completely candid view of an activity which occurs often, but rarely gets documented by the camera.

While some readers accused us of condoning the activity (several letters actually accused the photographer of staging the photograph or partaking in the activity) we certainly had no intention of promoting the use of illegal drugs.

The photographer took advantage of an overhanging branch to help maintain the girl's anonymity.

We left the caption purposefully vague to separate our personal views about drug use from the young woman's decision to smoke marijuana.

The fact remains, however, that the use of illegal drugs occurs openly in this community and others like it. This image simply represents that unique moment in time, completely unmanipulated and without judgement.

As journalists, we strive to bring our readers compelling stories and powerful imagery that tell the story of Federal Way, from our city's greatest accomplishments to its most catastrophic blunders, and from its most notable citizens to its miscreants.

We bring to you each week the heart of Federal Way, its gems and its blemishes.

It's our job, and our motto.