Back then it was not difficult to overpower the sun with a flashbulb, so probably likely there was some fill flash on this shot. That, or it is a masterful print or scan of the original neg.

[Any "fill flash" effect is courtesy of Photoshop. - Dave]

I love the effect of the backlighting in this photo. I've never heard the term "refugee" used with folks affected by the Dust Bowl. It makes me wonder if the term is used out of ignorance or as a political statement. Neither scenario would be flattering to the author.

[Any ignorance here might be ours. A refugee is a person seeking refuge. The term was widely used during the Depression when referring to the victims of Dust Bowl-era drought and flooding. - Dave]

The well-respected camera woman achieves a technical masterwork with this extreme backlit shot. Or has Shorpy come to the rescue and opened up the shadows and let us see the Depression-be-damned happiness of the three boys?