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Nick Ut

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In this Vietnamese name, the surname is Huỳnh, but is often simplified to Huynh in English-language text. In accordance with Vietnamese custom, this person should be referred to by the given name, Ut (Út).

Nick Ut
Ut in 2016
Born
Huỳnh Công Út

(1951-03-29) March 29, 1951 (age 73)
Bình Quới, Châu Thành, Long An, French Indochina, French Union[1]
CitizenshipAmerican
OccupationPhotojournalism
Notable credit(s)Pulitzer Prize
World Press Photo
National Medal of Arts

Huỳnh Công Út, known professionally as Nick Ut (born March 29, 1951),[2] is a Vietnamese-American photographer who worked for the Associated Press in Los Angeles.[3] He won both the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography and the 1973 World Press Photo of the Year for his 1972 photograph The Terror of War, depicting children running away from a napalm bombing attack during the Vietnam War.[4] In 2017, he retired.[5] Examples of his work may be found in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.[6]

Biography

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Born in Long An, Vietnam (then part of the French Indochina), Ut began to take photographs for the Associated Press when he was 15,[7][8] just after his older brother Huynh Thanh My, another AP photographer, was killed in Vietnam.[9] His closest friend in the Saigon bureau, Henri Huet, also died in 1971 after volunteering to take the weary Ut's place on an assignment.[10]

After the fall of Saigon in 1975, Ut himself was wounded three different times in the war in his knee, arm, and stomach. He moved to Tokyo and arrived in Los Angeles two years later.[11]

The Terror of War

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The Terror of War, also colloquially called Napalm Girl,[12][13] is Ut's best-known photograph and features a naked 9-year-old girl, Phan Thị Kim Phúc, running toward the camera from a South Vietnamese napalm strike that mistakenly hit Trảng Bàng village instead of nearby North Vietnamese troops on June 8, 1972.[14] Before delivering his film with the photograph, Ut set his camera aside to rush 9-year-old Kim Phuc to a hospital, where doctors saved her life. He said: "I cried when I saw her running... If I don’t help her, if something happened and she died, I think I’d kill myself after that".[15]

Scared children flee on a road, with soldiers behind them and a smoky sky; in the center is a nude girl, screaming and lifting her arms while running
The Terror of War by Nick Ut

The publication of the photograph was delayed due to the AP bureau's debate about transmitting a naked girl's photograph over the wire.[16]

... an editor at the AP rejected the photo of Kim Phuc running down the road without clothing because it showed frontal nudity. Pictures of nudes of all ages and sexes, and especially frontal views were an absolute no-no at the Associated Press in 1972 ... Horst argued by telex with the New York head-office that an exception must be made, with the compromise that no close-up of the girl Kim Phuc alone would be transmitted. The New York photo editor, Hal Buell, agreed that the news value of the photograph overrode any reservations about nudity.[17]

— Nick Ut

Audiotapes of then-president Richard Nixon in conversation with his chief of staff, H. R. Haldeman, show that Nixon doubted the veracity of the photograph, musing whether it may have been "fixed".[18]

In September 2016,[19] a Norway newspaper published an open letter to Mark Zuckerberg after censorship was imposed on this photograph placed on the newspaper's Facebook page.[20][21] Half of the ministers in the Norwegian government shared the photograph on their Facebook pages, among them prime minister Erna Solberg from the Conservative Party. Several of the Facebook posts, including the Prime Minister's post, were deleted by Facebook,[22][23] but later that day, Facebook reinstated the picture and said "the value of permitting sharing outweighs the value of protecting the community by removal".[24][25]

Family and later career

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Nick Ut in 2015

Ut is a United States citizen and is married with two children in Los Angeles.[26] His photos of a crying Paris Hilton in the back seat of a Los Angeles County Sheriff's cruiser on June 8, 2007, were published worldwide; however, Ut was photographing Hilton alongside photographer Karl Larsen. Two photographs emerged; the more famous photograph of Hilton was credited to Ut despite being Larsen's photo.[27]

After working for the Associated Press for 51 years, Ut retired in 2017.[28] The photography community in Los Angeles held a retirement party to celebrate Ut's career and exhibit his work (including that iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo) at The Perfect Exposure Gallery in Los Angeles.[29][30]

In 2021, Nick Ut was awarded the National Medal of Arts for his work during the Vietnam War.[31] On the eve of receiving the award, Ut published an essay in Newsweek explaining why he decided to accept the medal from President Donald Trump despite political concerns surrounding the January 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol.[32][33] The next day, while out to dinner with a friend, Nick Ut was attacked by a stranger in downtown Washington, D.C.. He fell to the ground, hit the metal fence surrounding the tree, and hurt his ribs, back, and leg. It is unclear whether this attack was for political reasons or just coincidental.[34] After the incident, Ut received many calls asking about his health, including from Kim Phuc.[35]

Accolades

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The Terror of War was awarded World Press Photo of the Year in 1973

Nick Ut's iconic photograph, The Terror of War, won every major photographic award, such as the Overseas Press Club honoring him with the Best Photograph, Daily Newspaper or Wire Service. The George Polk Awards for News Photography, the World Press Photo for Photo of the Year, and the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography. He was the 2014 Lucie Awards honoree for Achievement in Photojournalism. Kerala Media Academy in India presented him with the World Press Photographer Prize in 2019.

On the 40th anniversary of that Pulitzer Prize-winning photograph in September 2012, Ut became only the third person inducted into the Leica Hall of Fame for his contributions to photojournalism.[36] In 2021, he became the first journalist to receive the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given to artists and arts patrons by the United States federal governments.[37][34]

Organizations[a] Year Category Result Ref.
Asian American Journalists Association 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award Honored [38]
2017 Honored [39]
Federal government of the United States 2021 National Medal of Arts Honored [37]
George Polk Awards 1972 News Photography Won [40]
Kerala Media Academy 2019 World Photographer Prize Won [41]
Leica Camera 2012 Leica Hall of Fame Honored [42]
Los Angeles Press Club 2016 Joseph M. Quinn Award for Lifetime Achievement Honored [43]
Lucie Awards 2014 Achievement in Photojournalism Honored [44]
Overseas Press Club 1972 Best Photographs, Daily Newspaper or Wire Service Won [45]
Pulitzer Prize 1973 Spot News Photography Won [46]
World Press Photo 1973 Photo of the Year Won [47]

Collections

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Ut's work is held in the following permanent collection:

Notes

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  1. ^ Awards, honors and other miscellaneous organizations are listed in alphabetical order.

References

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  1. ^ Kỳ Quan (June 4, 2018). "Cùng Nick Út về thăm nơi chôn nhau cắt rốn". Báo Lao Động (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
    Hoàng Phương (April 2, 2012). "Nick Út thăm lại quê xưa". Thanh Niên (in Vietnamese). Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  2. ^ "Nick Ut "From Hell to Hollywood"". Leica Gallery Los Angeles. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  3. ^ Hudson, Berkley (2009). Sterling, Christopher H. (ed.). Encyclopedia of Journalism. Thousand Oaks, Calif.: SAGE. pp. 1060–67. ISBN 978-0-7619-2957-4.
  4. ^ "Spot News Photography". The Pulitzer Prizes. Retrieved July 31, 2018.
  5. ^ "Associated Press photographer Nick Ut to retire". The Detroit News. March 13, 2017. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  6. ^ a b "Nick Ut". National Gallery of Art. Archived from the original on May 13, 2024. Retrieved May 13, 2024.
  7. ^ Frances Kai-Hwa Wang (August 23, 2016). "Nick Ut, Photographer Behind 'Napalm Girl' Picture, Announces March Retirement". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  8. ^ "Photographer Nick Ut: Witness to History". Voice of America. November 2, 2009. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  9. ^ "The early years covering Vietnam by Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Nick Ut". Los Angeles Times. March 30, 2017. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  10. ^ Associated Press (March 28, 2017). "AP's legendary "Napalm Girl" photographer Nick Ut to retire". The Denver Post. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  11. ^ Anh Do (August 21, 2016). "From Vietnam to Los Angeles: Photographer who captured iconic image on one road sees end of another". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  12. ^ Singh, Namita (June 8, 2022). "50 years later, 'Napalm girl' says iconic photo made it difficult to 'navigate private and emotional life'". The Independent. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  13. ^ Recker, Jane (June 10, 2022). "Fifty Years Later, Kim Phuc Phan Thi Is More Than 'Napalm Girl'". Smithsonian. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  14. ^ Harris, Mark Edward (April 3, 2015). "Photographer Who Took Iconic Vietnam Photo Looks Back, 40 Years After the War Ended". Vanity Fair. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  15. ^ Associated Press (March 13, 2017). "'Napalm Girl' photographer Nick Ut looks back at a career that included war's carnage and Hollywood's red carpets". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  16. ^ Khan, Stephen (June 6, 2022). "'Accidental Napalm' turns 50: the generation-defining image capturing the futility of the Vietnam war". The Conversation. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  17. ^ Faas, Horst; Fulton, Marianne. "How the Picture Reached the World". The Digital Journalist. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  18. ^ Collins, Dan (February 28, 2002). "Nixon, The A-Bomb, And Napalm". CBS News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  19. ^ Ohlheiser, Abby (September 9, 2016). "Facebook backs down, will no longer censor the iconic 'Napalm Girl' war photo". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  20. ^ Scott, Mark; Isaac, Mike (September 9, 2016). "Facebook Restores Iconic Vietnam War Photo It Censored for Nudity". The New York Times. Archived from the original on February 23, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  21. ^ Hansen, Espen Egil (December 27, 2016). "Dear Mark. I am writing this to inform you that I shall not comply with your requirement to remove this picture". Aftenposten. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  22. ^ Goulard, Hortense (September 9, 2016). "Facebook accused of censorship of 'Napalm girl' picture". Politico. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  23. ^ Ross, Alice; Wong, Julia Carrie (September 9, 2016). "Facebook deletes Norwegian PM's post as 'napalm girl' row escalates". The Guardian. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  24. ^ Time Photo (September 9, 2016). "The Story Behind the 'Napalm Girl' Photo Censored by Facebook". Time. Archived from the original on February 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  25. ^ AFP (September 10, 2016). "Facebook reverses move to censor 'napalm girl' photo". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  26. ^ Rogers, John (March 14, 2017). "'From hell to Hollywood': Nick Ut, 'Napalm Girl' photographer, hangs up press pass". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  27. ^ Ryan, Harriet (January 20, 2009). "Photographer Karl Larsen sues ABC over Paris Hilton photo". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  28. ^ Gandhi, Lakshmi (March 29, 2017). "'Napalm Girl' Photographer Nick Ut Retires After 51 Years in Photojournalism". NBC News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  29. ^ OCR Staff (April 4, 2017). "Pulitzer Prize-winning 'Napalm Girl' photographer Nick Ut retires after 51 years". The Orange County Register. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  30. ^ "Nick Ut - Los Angeles". The Perfect Exposure Gallery. March 28, 2017. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  31. ^ "President Donald J. Trump Awarded the National Medal of Arts and National Humanities Medal". National Archives and Records Administration. January 14, 2021. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  32. ^ Nick Ut (January 13, 2021). "Nick Ut: Why I Accepted Trump's Medal Of Arts". Newsweek. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  33. ^ Johnson, Ted (January 14, 2021). "Donald Trump Handed Out National Medal Of Arts To Latest Honorees As Congress Moved To Impeach Him For The Second Time". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  34. ^ a b Burke, Minyvonne (January 17, 2021). "Nick Ut, photojournalist who made famed Vietnam War 'napalm girl' image, attacked in D.C." NBC News. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  35. ^ Spencer, Darcy (January 16, 2021). "Pulitzer-Winning Photographer Attacked in DC Day After Accepting Award at White House". WRC-TV. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  36. ^ Leica Camera (April 11, 2019). "Leica Gallery Los Angeles Debuts "From Hell to Hollywood" by Pulitzer Prize-Winning Photographer Nick Ut". PR Newswire. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  37. ^ a b "AP photographer Nick Ut receives National Medal of Arts". Associated Press. January 13, 2021. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  38. ^ "David Ono to Show 'The Power of a Picture'". Rafu Shimpo. June 1, 2012. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  39. ^ "Past Community Awardees By Year". Asian American Journalists Association Awards. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  40. ^ "Past Winners". Long Island University. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  41. ^ Staff Reporter (January 28, 2018). "Nick Ut selected for Kerala Media Academy award p6 briefly with his pic". The Hindu. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
    Press Trust of India (March 11, 2018). "Nick Ut the main attraction of the Photo feast". Business Standard. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  42. ^ Francisco, Dinuli (September 3, 2023). "Nick Ut's journey through the lens". Sunday Observer. Archived from the original on March 19, 2024. Retrieved March 19, 2024.
  43. ^ THR Staff (May 25, 2016). "Hollywood Reporter Tops Southern California Journalism Awards With 35 Noms". The Hollywood Reporter. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
    Easton, Lauren (June 27, 2016). "Lifetime achievement award for photographer Nick Ut". AP Definitive Source – Associated Press. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  44. ^ Allen, Sarah (October 15, 2014). "Lucie Foundation unveils its 2014 honorees". British Journal of Photography. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  45. ^ Banerjee, Jasodhara (October 1, 2018). "I took the picture that changed the war: Nick Ut". Forbes India. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
    "Awards Recipients". Overseas Press Club. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  46. ^ Corry, John (May 8, 1973). "Pulitzers Go to Washington Post, Frankel, 'Championship Season'". The New York Times. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.
  47. ^ "1973 Nick Ut". World Press Photo. Archived from the original on March 20, 2024. Retrieved March 20, 2024.

Further reading

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Nick Ut.
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