Contest over 'Napalm Girl' photographer's authenticity raises doubts in the photography world
Rewritten Article:
title: New Doubts over "Napalm Girl" Photographer
HOLLAND - World Press Photo Organization announced this week that it has suspended the credit given to Nick Ut, the legendary war photographer, for capturing one of history's most poignant images, "Napalm Girl."
The stunning 1972 photo, depicting a terror-stricken nine-year-old Vietnamese girl fleeing a napalm attack, has been put under scrutiny due to the release of the film "The Stringer," which delves into rumors that the photo might have been taken by a lesser-known local freelance journalist, rather than Ut himself.
The documentary, produced by The VII Foundation, sparked an investigation by World Press Photo, leading to a reevaluation of the photograph’s origins.
In a recent investigation spanning five months, World Press Photo examined the circumstances surrounding the photograph, focusing on factors such as location, distance, and the equipment used at the time. As a result of this analysis, two other photographers - Nguyen Thanh Nghe and Huynh Cong Phuc - were identified as potential candidates for the actual authorship.
World Press Photo has since suspended Nick Ut's accreditation for "The Terror of War" (the official title of the "Napalm Girl" photo). The organization stated, "It is possible that the true author of the photograph will remain a mystery unless compelling evidence comes to light."
Nguyen Thanh Nghe, a Vietnamese freelancer, has confidently claimed in interviews for "The Stringer" that the photo was his. Huynh Cong Phuc, another Vietnamese photographer present at the scene of the traumatic event in Trảng Bàng, Vietnam, is also a candidate for the authorship.
The Associated Press (AP), which initially awarded Ut the Pulitzer Prize for the camera, expressed support for their decision to continue crediting Ut for the photo. However, they acknowledged that recent revelations have raised “legitimate concerns” about the photograph’s author.
“We cannot definitively prove what transpired on that fateful day in 1972,” said AP in a statement. “However, it is essential to celebrate the profound impact of this photograph while acknowledging the uncertainties that surfaced as a result of this investigation.”
Nick Ut stood by his claim of authorship in a February Facebook post, calling such challenges a “slap in the face.”
Kim Phuc, the young girl in the photo, went on to survive her injuries and has since become a prominent advocate for child war victims, settling in Canada.
World Press Photo emphasized that the authenticity of the photograph is not in question. “Beyond a shadow of a doubt, this photograph captures a historical moment that continues to resonate around the globe,” stated executive director Joumana El Zein Khoury.
The "Napalm Girl" photo.
Enrichment Data:
- Nguyễn Thành Nghệ and Nguyễn Ngọc (also potentially Nguyễn Nghĩa): These individuals remain the primary contenders to have captured the "Napalm Girl" photo, given that they were present at the scene. Nguyen Thanh Nghe, a freelance journalist, has publicly declared that the photo is his.
- Huỳnh Công Phúc: A Vietnamese military photographer who was close to the scene of the event in question, has also been suggested as a potential photographic contributor to the "Napalm Girl" photo.
Note: World Press Photo Organization is the appropriate name, as reflected in the organization's website and other reliable sources. "World Press" is the commonly used abbreviation but a fuller name provides greater clarity for the unfamiliar reader.
- The recently released documentary, "The Stringer," about the "Napalm Girl" photo, has led to a reevaluation of its authorship by the World Press Photo Organization, with two potential candidates, Nguyen Thanh Nghe and Huynh Cong Phuc, coming under focus.
- In the wake of the documentary's investigation into the "Napalm Girl" photo, the Associated Press has acknowledged that recent revelations have raised "legitimate concerns" about the photograph’s author, while also highlighting the profound impact of the image.
- The investigation by World Press Photo Organization has uncovered two other photographers, Nguyen Thanh Nghe and Huynh Cong Phuc, who could potentially be the true author of the iconic "Napalm Girl" photo, initially credited to Nick Ut.
