What the controversy was about was she used both her own photos and photos from other sources. This brought all kinds of people out of the woodwork criticizing her. What the point of it was I am not sure. She states at the beginning of the essay that not all of the photos are hers.

Her and her friends actions are also considered not acceptable either in the region. They are considered grave robbers ("diggers") by many, not historians. I hope to go to Chernobyl myself in the next few years, I know several people who have and the Belorussians love to hunt along the edges for the huge boars which come out of the area. Or so I am told. I do not buy pork from the farmers markets there. I don't know where it came from.
Apparently you can go there if you want, strictly at your own risk and people have been living there since 1986 and apparently have little if any ill effects. You must stop at a decontamination station on the way out and it is advisable to have a geiger counter with you.