Interview with Nick Ut
A wonderful short interview with Nick Ut by Koray Berkin anda Prof Ozan Bilgiseren.
At the hotel, I had the opportunity to make a short interview with Nick Ut who is invited to Turkey by İstanbul PhotoMaraton Organization. Prof Ozan Bilgiseren also helped me in this interview, I thank him so much.
In the course of Vietnam War, when he was 21, he photographed nine-year-old girl, who was burned by napalm bombs were fleeing naked. This frame would later be called the frame that ended the war and would bring him the Pulitzer Prize.
How did you start talking photographs?
I was working in the dark chamber with my elder brother, as a photographer. I started photography meeting the Leica camera when I was 16 years old.
When I was working in the dark chamber, I was developing and printing the photos that he took on the front. I was deeply impressed. My brother died as a reporter in the Vietnam War. AP (Associated Press) asked me to take his place, so I started to pursue the war for the AP.
Your brother lost his life as a reporter in this war. And you resumed his career. Weren’t you afraid? Didn’t you think of death?
I was 21 and so crazy. I never thought of death or being shot. I was shot 3 times during the war. I still have pain from time to time.
Could you tell us the story of the “Napalm Girl’, the symbol of the Vietnam War?
The girl who was 9 years old when the napalm bombs burned is Kim Phuc. The warplane was bombing the area where lots of civilians were in. Many children were fleeing in fear and pain with their burned bodies. I saw the naked girl among the people who were running. I took 10 shots and threw my cameras, then ran to help her with my driver. She was burned all over, we poured water on her and took her to the hospital. Helping someone is as important as documenting that moment. Some reporters asked to a photojournalist who saved someone from Chinese earthquake, why he did it. He said “That’s how Nick did it.” Many photojournalists have also learned from this subject.
The photo of “Napalm Girl” has had a very strong impact and it has raised people’s conscience.
How was the effect of the photo?
After taking this photo and publishing it, the American people stood up against the war. People were very angry. It caused a lot of protests. It was used everywhere as an anti-war photograph. It was even used against the Iraq war.
In Vietnam, the press was working free and aesy, but after this photograph, it lost its former comfort. The press was suppressed. For example, George H. W. Bush said that he didn’t want to see any photographs as in Vietnam. The press is working under more difficult conditions. The USA doesn’t want to see photos of dead soldiers.
What do you think about photojournalism today?
Photojournalism has become very difficult. Nowadays there are lots of photographers working with mobile phones. They serve free videos and photos.
How have the battles affected you?
I still have nightmares from time to time. I hate war movies, I don’t watch them. 115 journalists were killed in Vietnam. Many journalists are still in danger. I lost a lot of friends and photojournalist friends. I always say “War doesn’t make you money, it makes you lost more.” Battles are usual today, nobody cares them. Tons of bombs were left on the first day of the Iraq War, but everyone was curious about Michael Jackson’s case. Nobody cares about war, not even artists listen.
What have you done after reporting the war?
After the war, I took pictures of Hollywood stars in California. It’s hard to do this in Hollywood, but when they saw who I was, they hugged me. Marlon Brando said “The most important photo that impressed me.” for Napalm Girl photo. I also took photos of many USA presidents. Regan and Trump said “Nick is the man for the job.”
We had a great time and experienced taking photos on the streets of Istanbul with Nick stayed in Istanbul for five days. When we had a coffee break in the Ara Café, Nick bought them. Nick Ut who participated in the PhotoMaraton Awards Ceremony, both signed his photos and made a very wonderful interview.
I wish to meet again with one of the master photojournalists, Nick Ut.
Teşekkürler
Nick Ut
Koray Berkin
Prof. Ozan Bilgiseren
ve
İngilizce Çeviri : Neslihan Çam
