Nick Ut, Exactly 35 Years Later
When word broke a few minutes ago that Paris Hilton was headed back to
jail, we were stunned. Not because Paris was back in custody, but
because the Associated Press photo of her crying in the back of a
police cruiser was taken by the one and only Nick Ut. Nick, of course,
was the photographer who shot young Kim Phuc, the girl wounded during a
napalm attack near the village of Trang Bang, thus creating one of the
iconic images of the Vietnam War.
Just to note how funny life (and careers) can be, get this: Nick made
his famous war image on June 8, 1972. Who would have imagined that 35
years (to the day) later he'd be photographing an unhappy hotel heiress
being shipped off to jail and getting front-page coverage for doing so?
—David Schoauer
I think it's a perfect reflection on what the people in the USA care about. Then: world issues and wars, now: tabloids. Pretty metaphorical.
Posted by: Hudson Gardner | June 08, 2007 at 09:38 PM
From world changing, history making art/documentary to front page drivel.
The American Dream!
Posted by: Stan Banos | June 08, 2007 at 10:02 PM
Does this mark the death of photojournalism?
Posted by: D | June 08, 2007 at 10:39 PM
Photojournalism has taken a back seat for major newspapers around the globe. What we seeon the front pages are celebrities, sports icons etc.. leaving small room for real issues. May be thatz also the reason why nothing happened when US forces slapped an unoffical censorship on photography in Iraq. Who cares.
Posted by: Altaf Qadri | June 09, 2007 at 07:01 AM
What's even more interesting is the full image, which shows the reflection of someone (Ut?) in the car window taking a photo. Can be seen at the top of this news story:
http://tinyurl.com/389tyx
Posted by: Kurt | June 09, 2007 at 09:51 AM
He works for the AP; it's his job to cover the 'news' in his region. From dog shows to war to Paris...it's all just pornography for the masses. We all looked!
Posted by: David La Spina | June 09, 2007 at 06:36 PM
Speaking of pornography, given today's paranoia about publishing images of naked children, not one chance in hell would the Vietnam image be published today, were it new.
Posted by: Michal Daniel | June 10, 2007 at 08:21 AM
Could this photograph become like its predecessor, an iconic image? This time for an angry public sickened by celebrity nonentities and its encouraged diversion from the important political issues of our times. It is the 21st century version of bread and circuses!
Posted by: Keith Nolan | June 11, 2007 at 04:16 AM
Re nudity, the Vietnam pic was nearly not shown for exactly that reason, the little girl, Kim Phuc, was naked. And is it not the owners of the press that control what we see, not the readers. Lots of us are looking elsewhere for our news, rejecting the garbage of the mainstream press. The interwebby thingy is good for that I hear.
Posted by: Justaglasgowguy | June 15, 2007 at 04:58 AM
Mr Ut works for The Associated Press a an american based but world wide newsagency and he has to report what is happening near the bureau where he is an employee, like anyone of us will you please that newspeople are not saints priests or missionaries? They are workers, just workers of an industry more seen than the others but an industry.
Posted by: andrebonito | June 18, 2007 at 08:08 AM
Photojournalism has taken a back seat for major newspapers around the globe. What we see on the front pages are celebrities,sports icons etc.leaving small room for real issues.
sam
Utah Treatment Centers
Posted by: sam | August 12, 2008 at 04:31 AM
appreciated
Posted by: Aaditya | August 20, 2008 at 11:12 PM
Hello! Very Interesting post! Thank you for such interesting resource! PS: Sorry for my bad english, I'v just started to learn this language ;) See you! Your, Raiul Baztepo
Posted by: RaiulBaztepo | March 28, 2009 at 08:11 PM
Hi !!! ;) I am Piter Kokoniz. Just want to tell, that I like your blog very much! And want to ask you: will you continue to post in this blog in future? Sorry for my bad english:) Thank you! Piter Kokoniz, from Latvia
Posted by: PiterKokoniz | April 07, 2009 at 08:06 PM
Hi, I just saw a program on television about the art of Nick Ut. I was realy impressed.
Is there a way to get in contact with Mr. Ut. Can anyone tell me his email address (or home address) to contact him ?
Thanks a lot, and warm greetings from Belgium.
Freddy Haeck
Lusthoflaan 107
9030 Mariakerke
Belgium
haeckfreddy3@hotmail.com
Posted by: freddy haeck | October 12, 2009 at 05:22 PM
It´s amazing how different two people and their lifes can be when you study Nick Ut´s two pictures - one from Hell (South Vietnam, June 8, 1972) and one from Sunny California (L.A., June 8, 2007).
For sure, the picture of the children of Trang Bang is more interesting than the picture of the rich blonde.
Posted by: Mr Over Boerje | October 13, 2009 at 04:27 AM