Pulitzer Prize winning photographer speaks

by Tamika Harrison
Staff Writer

Nick Ut, a Pulitzer Prize winning photographer, was the guest in Randy Miller's Public Relations Methods class Wednesday.

Ut is best known for his dramatic photograph in 1972 of Kim Phoc, a Napalm girl who had been captured running and crying for help, as her naked body burned during the Vietnam War.

The photograph covered the front pages of numerous newspapers and magazines across the world and became the signature photograph of the Vietnam War, carrying through its popularity today.

Ut began by showing an introductory film, demonstrating the value of photographs and film, that capture memorable moments in time and life changing events.

This film introduction displayed events such as the Vietnam War in 1972, the Los Angeles Riots in 1992 and traumatic experiences of refugees.

Slides of Ut's photographs were also presented during the class. The photographs showed many pictures of his experience in Napalm during the Vietnam War, Cambodia and Saigon.

Other pictures depicted life in Vietnam after the war, 25 years later. Ut explained that people in Vietnam are still affected by the war.

One picture in particular told a story about a woman who lost her three kids 25 years after the war ended to a bomb that was found by one of her kids.

Land mines also still exist in Vietnam. However, Ut says that it is a very beautiful place to visit.

"Now it is like taking a vacation," Ut said. "The people there are so friendly and nicethey say we are friends now and no more war."

Ut visits Vietnam often. He's very caring and empathetic towards those who suffered because of the war.

He also goes back to help one girl who had lost her family during the tragic event.

More recent photographs that Ut took when he came to Los Angeles in 1977 were also viewed.

Unlike the traumatic photos of Napalm, these pictures captured close ups of celebrities such as Alec Baldwin, Joan Collins, Robert Downey, Jr., and O.J. Simpson during his trial.

Political figures such as Ronald Reagan and Jesse Jackson, and professional sports moments were also in his slide of photographs.

Although he faced hardships in Vietnam, Ut said that it was nothing compared to what he faced during the Los Angeles Riots.

According to Ut, his life was threatened by a man as he was trying to take pictures during the riots.

"It was the most horrible experience (like) nothing I had encountered in the Vietnam," said Ut.

Right now Ut works out of a Los Angeles office and mainly photographs news events.

His company has workshops every year for students who are interested in photography or in becoming photographers.