When I wrote last week about Heart-Wrenching Photos, I purposely did not include this tragedy. I wanted to write a separate blog post.
On June 8, 1972, South Vietnamese Airforce dropped the flaming napalm bomb on civilians. 9 year old girl, Phan Thi Kim Phuc, who was playing with her cousins in the street was caught in that. Her clothes were burnt. She had to rip her burning clothes off and run naked for safety.
This was the most iconic image of Vietnam War.
This picture was taken by Associated Press photographer Nick Ut, He won a Pulitzer Prize for this.
When this photo was published in the New York Times, the whole U.S. population shook.
Later Phan Thi Kim Phuc defected to Canada and she now lives there.
Want to know the effect of napalm bomb attack? Major portion of a city will be burnt and destroyed. When a napalm bomb is dropped, this is how the place looks like.
Here is a photo of that girl and the photographer on June 8, 2012 on the 40th anniversary of that incident.
I am not a fan of photographing someone's grief to create a sensation. But if that photo would strengthen the public opinion against crimes like war, then it's fine.
ReplyDeleteDestination Infinity
Thanks for your comments Rajesh. This was not taken to create a sensation. The photographer was just happened to be there at that time. This photo had a lasting effect on the American public to stop the Vietnam war.
DeleteYes, an iconic photo.
ReplyDeleteThere are a few such photos from India too. One taken by India Today's Raghu Rai in the aftermath of the Bhopal gas tragedy of the face of a half-buried, dead child.
https://www.indiatimes.com/news/india/bhopal-gas-tragedy-veteran-photojournalist-raghu-rai-describes-how-corporate-crime-looked-like-34-years-ago-357763.html
Then there was one taken of a man pleading with arsonists during the communal riots in Ahmedabad.
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-17150859
Thanks for your comments Pradeep. Read these 2 articles mentioned by yoy along with the photos. Very tragic. They are heart breaking.
DeleteHeart wrenching it is. The photo served its purpose of publicising the gruesome incident. It was a relief to know the victim is well settled at Canada.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Mr. KP. Yes, that photo brought the reality of Vietnam war with the Americans.
DeleteSuch photographs serve as the eye-openers in grave situations like this. Still it stands iconic in ghastly conditions. A photograph that melts the cruelty of a majority.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Sarala. Yes, that photo brought the reality of Vietnam war with the Americans.
DeleteTruly a heart wrenching picture.
ReplyDeleteThanks for your comments Dee. Yes, truly a heart wrenching picture.
DeleteYes, I had seen this image. Truly heart-wrenching.
ReplyDeleteHadn't seen the rest of the images.
War is terrible. Hope we have no more of that...
In contrast, so nice to see the smiles on the faces of the girl & the photographer.
Keep smiling :)
Thanks for your comments Anita. And, welcome to my blog. I am also glad that this girl is doing well in her life
DeleteAnita, please visit here as often as possible. Thanks.
In similar context there is a picture called "The Vulture and the Child", where a starving and very weak Sudanese boy was shown along side a vulture waiting for him to die. The photographer got a Pulitzer Prize but due to guilt committed suicide a couple of months later.
ReplyDelete(https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_vulture_and_the_little_girl)