Her final photo: US Army photographer captured this image of explosion that killed her

The US Army has published the final photo of a combat photographer who captured on camera the accidental mortar explosion that killed her in Afghanistan.

The Army’s professional journal says the image, taken nearly four years ago, illustrates how women are increasingly exposed to dangerous situations in the military.

The photograph of Spc Hilda Clayton was published Monday in Military Review.

“Clayton’s death symbolises how female soldiers are increasingly exposed to hazardous situations in training and in combat on par with their male counterparts,” Military Review wrote.

Clayton snapped the picture during a live-fire training exercise on July 2, 2013 in the Laghman Province, Afghanistan. The blast also killed four Afghan National Army soldiers. One of them was a photojournalist Clayton had partnered with to train.

Military Review noted that the explosion happened during a critical moment in the war, when it was important for US and Afghan forces to work in partnership to stabilise the country.