An Unlikely Weapon

Darren Troy C

Wasn't completely sure where to place this. An iconic figure that most people have probably never heard of....there's an oxymoron! However, I can most certainly assure you that most, if not all of you, have seen his most famous image. This is one I'll be putting on the "must see" list.

http://www.anunlikelyweapon.com/

Nikolai

Very interesting! Thank you for sharing!

bdcolen

Idlewild wrote:

Wasn't completely sure where to place this. An iconic figure that most people have probably never heard of....there's an oxymoron! However, I can most certainly assure you that most, if not all of you, have seen his most famous image. This is one I'll be putting on the "must see" list.

http://www.anunlikelyweapon.com/

This may annoy some people - which I know I've never done before

This image is brilliant, iconic, terrifying, moving, disturbing - perfect...and it made Adams's reputation. He went on after the war to a gig as a photographer for Parade Magazine, and founded - I believe - the Eddie Adams Workshops, which have boosted the career of many young photo journalists. However...

I recently saw a copy in my local bookstore of a new book of Adams Vietnam work. I believe it's called Eddie Adams's Vietnam, but I may be wrong. Being so familiar with the Tet execution photo, I rushed toward it on the display shelf thinking, "Wow! I can't wait to see what else he shot." And after looking through the book, I walked away thinking "that's how being in the right place, at the right time - and not losing your cool can make a career." There was nothing "wrong" with the work in the book, but neither was there anything to get excited about; it was solid, yeoman-like, wire service combat photography. Give him his due - he obviously risked his butt day in and day out, which is what doing good combat photography requires. But that was it. I'm convinced after seeing that book that had he not been on that particular Saigon street, at that particular moment, and taken that one photo, he wouldn't have been hired by Parade, and we would not be discussing him now. He'd have been just another working stiff in photo land.

Now, all that aside, I too look forward to seeing the film, because the story of how that photograph shaped Adams's later life, and the life of Gen. Loan, who is the executioner in the photo, is really fascinating. Thanks for bring this to our attention.

Awais Yaqub

Interesting insight BD !