Nick Ut
Who was Nick Ut?
Vietnamese-American photojournalist who won the Pulitzer Prize for his iconic 1972 photograph of a napalm attack during the Vietnam War. He worked for the Associated Press for over three decades, covering major conflicts and events across Southeast Asia.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Nick Ut (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Nick Ut, born Huỳnh Công Út on March 29, 1951, in Long An Province, South Vietnam, became one of the most significant war photographers of the 20th century through his work during the Vietnam War. He joined the Associated Press (AP) as a photographer in 1966 at 15, following his older brother Huỳnh Thanh Mỹ, an AP photographer who was killed covering combat operations in 1965. Starting out as a darkroom assistant and messenger, Ut quickly showed his talent and was promoted to staff photographer.
On June 8, 1972, Ut took one of the most powerful photographs of the Vietnam War. While covering a South Vietnamese napalm attack on the village of Trang Bang, he captured 9-year-old Phan Thi Kim Phuc running naked and severely burned by napalm. The image, known as "Napalm Girl," was shared worldwide and greatly affected American views on the war. After photographing the scene, Ut helped rush Kim Phuc to the hospital, probably saving her life, and maintained a lifelong friendship with her and her family.
The photograph won Ut the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography, making him one of the youngest winners of the award at age 21. Beyond this iconic image, Ut continued his work as a war correspondent and photojournalist, capturing conflicts throughout Southeast Asia and many historical events. His work during the fall of Saigon in 1975 and other conflicts showed his commitment to capturing key historical moments through photography.
In 1977, Ut moved to the United States, where he continued working for the Associated Press in Los Angeles. He covered entertainment events, natural disasters, and breaking news on the West Coast while still focusing on serious journalism. Throughout his over three-decade career with AP, Ut remained committed to photojournalism's power to document truth and drive social change. He retired from the Associated Press in 2017, leaving behind work that helped shape modern war photography and photojournalism.
Before Fame
Nick Ut grew up during the Vietnam War in a rural area southwest of Saigon. He got into photography partly because of his brother's influence and partly by chance. His brother, Huỳnh Thanh Mỹ, worked as a photographer for the Associated Press and was killed in 1965 while on assignment. After this, the Associated Press offered the teenage Ut a job in their darkroom, also having him work as a messenger.
In the late 1960s, photojournalism was becoming a powerful tool in shaping how the Vietnam War was seen by the public. American and international news organizations had a strong presence in South Vietnam and needed local photographers who understood the cultural and language challenges of covering the war. Ut's youth, local insights, and growing technical skills allowed him to capture the war from a unique Vietnamese perspective, during a time when most reports were made by foreign journalists.
Key Achievements
- Won the 1973 Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography for his 'Napalm Girl' photograph at age 21
- Captured one of the most influential war photographs in history that helped shift American public opinion on the Vietnam War
- Served as Associated Press staff photographer for over 30 years, documenting major conflicts and events
- Helped save the life of napalm victim Kim Phuc by personally ensuring she received medical treatment
- Documented the fall of Saigon in 1975 and other significant historical events throughout Southeast Asia
Did You Know?
- 01.After taking the famous napalm photograph, Ut poured water on Kim Phuc's burns and drove her to the hospital himself, convincing doctors to treat her despite their initial belief that her injuries were too severe
- 02.He was initially rejected for a U.S. visa multiple times before finally being approved to immigrate in 1977, partly due to the international recognition of his Pulitzer Prize-winning work
- 03.Ut's camera equipment was damaged by the same napalm attack he photographed, but the film containing the iconic image survived intact
- 04.He maintained a 40-year friendship with Kim Phuc and served as an honored guest at her wedding in 1996
- 05.During his time covering Hollywood for AP in Los Angeles, he photographed major entertainment events while continuing to prioritize hard news and documentary work