Sunday, April 19, 2009

Vietnam - Eddie Adams

This book was a birthday gift to me from my wonderful wife. It is a great gift for two obvious reasons: 1) I was in Vietnam with the U.S. Army, and 2) I am a photographer.

I will treasure it for as long as I live, and will pass it on to my daughter when I graduate to the great photo studio in the sky. I've already skimmed through the book looking at all the pictures, but it contains much more than images, it has many comments as well.

If you are old enough to remember Vietnam, or had the opportunity to serve in-country, then you should check it out at your local library, or just buy it for your own personal collection.

Here is a description of the contents:

"After the whole history of Vietnam is written, it'll just be our photos." -Eddie Adams to Nick Ut (author of the 1973 Pulitzer Prizewinning photo of the napalmed girl running)



The first book by one of the world's legendary photojournalists, Eddie Adams: Vietnam is a long-awaited landmark. Adams' 1968 Pulitzer Prizewinning photograph cemented his reputation in the public eye and stands forever as an icon for the brutality of our last century: the image of Nguyen Ngoc Loan, police chief of Saigon, firing a bullet at the head of a Vietcong prisoner. Adams' image fueled antiwar sentiment that ultimately changed the course of history.



Adams' life in the headlines took him to the remotest corners of this troubled, beautiful planet compiling a historic record of the days of our lives. His forty-five-year career covered thirteen wars and amassed some five hundred photojournalism awards. He was a man to whom Clint Eastwood said, "Good shot;" Fidel Castro said, "Let's go duck hunting;" and the Pope said, "You've got three minutes." This is the man behind the Pulitzer Prizewinning picture that changed the world in 1968.



Through astonishing never-before-seen pictures, articles written by Adams, pages from journals, and other artifacts, one great journalist's experience of the war is told in gripping detail.



Edited by Alyssa Adams, with an essay by AP Bureau Chief Hal Buell, and contributions by Peter Arnett, Tom Brokaw, David Halberstam, George Esper, David Kennerly, Dirck Halstead, Tom Curley, Kerry Kennedy, and more, this is a classic of modern history and photography.



About the Author
Adams joined A.P. in 1962. He then worked for Time from 1972-1976, and returned to The A.P. as a special correspondent, covering the Vietnamese boat people. Those pictures, influenced the government decide to admit 200,000 South Vietnamese refugees to the United States.His 45-year career covered thirteen wars and amassed some 500 photojournalism awards.

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1 comment:

Unknown said...

I was young at this time but remember my brother and cousin being there.

I have given you the Lemonade Award.
http://luckebabe-reflections.blogspot.com/2009/04/lemonade-award.html

About Me

My photo
A retired former public relations practitioner, radio broadcaster, professional photographer, electronics geek and a Vietnam Vet.