Saturday, February 3, 2018

In Sight: The story behind one of the most important war photographs

A curated view of your world in photographs

South Vietnamese Gen. Nguyen Ngoc Loan fires his pistol into the head of suspected Viet Cong officer Nguyen Van Lem on a Saigon street on Feb. 1, 1968. (Photo by Eddie Adams/AP)

50 years ago this week, Eddie Adams shot one of the most important images of war

Before he pulls the trigger, the South Vietnamese general waves his soldiers out of the way so they don't get hurt.

He shoos them with the pistol he holds in his right hand, and flicks out his left hand as he approaches the prisoner standing before him.

His men guess what's coming, and scatter. The general raises the shiny snub-nose .38, points it at the prisoner's right temple and pulls the trigger.

At that instant on the sunny Thursday of Feb. 1, 1968, in what was then called Saigon, Associated Press photographer Eddie Adams's camera shutter clicked once and one of the most powerful pictures of the Vietnam War, or any war, was taken.

In 1/500th of a second, Adams caught the moment the bullet crashed through the Viet Cong prisoner's skull at about 600 mph, distorting his face, tousling his hair and shoving his head off center.

Adams did not realize he had taken one of history's great pictures. He did not know it was a shot that would summarize in a millisecond the savage, seemingly mindless, violence of the war.

He had no idea that his photograph, snapped 50 years ago this week, would help change history, and echo throughout his life.

In other news this week: Instagram introduced a new "Type Mode" with "creative text styles and backgrounds," it says; the International Olympic Committee banned Reuters from covering the 2018 Olympic Games' Opening Ceremony after it published embargoed photographs of the Olympic cauldron being lit with fire during a rehearsal in PyeongChang; and a photographer used the ultimate backdrop for wedding shots: an erupting volcano.

IN SIGHT

Scenes from a marathon six-day Daoist funeral deep in the heart of China

Photographer Nick Otto documents the six-day funeral for a respected Daoist priest following his death earlier this year.

By Thomas Simonetti • Read more »

(Edvard Munch/Courtesy of Munch Museum)

Beyond 'The Scream,' painter Edvard Munch experimented with photography

The Norwegian painter was using more than a paint brush for self-portraiture.

By Chloe Coleman • Read more »

(Claire Rosen)

From bees to bison, dinner tables with unusual guests

Claire Rosen sets up elaborate feasts where animals are invited to the table.

By Chloe Coleman • Read more »

MUST-SEE STORIES

People living in Texas border enclaves are unsure of future

Washington Post photographer Salwan Georges visited the unincorporated towns in south Texas, which represent one of the largest concentrations of poverty in the United States.

By Courtney Kan, Maria Sacchetti and Salwan Georges • Read more »

The Fearless Lynsey Addario

Aperture publishes an interview between Katie Couric and the lauded American photojournalist about her adventures abroad and her challenges at home.

'Why can't I have my life back?': In Puerto Rico, living and learning in the dark

Washington Post photographer Sarah L. Voisin reports from Puerto Rico where one-third of schools have no power and 25,000 students have fled.

By Moriah Balingit • Read more »

More Women Accuse Photo Editor Patrick Witty of Inappropriate Behavior | PDN Online

PDN reports on allegations against photo editor Patrick Witty, who was allegedly fired December 15 from National Geographic after claims of sexual harassment surfaced.

Here are 13 of the week's best photos

A camel festival in Abu Dhabi, political unrest in Honduras, President Trump's first State of the Union speech, the rare super blue blood moon and more images from around the world.