Ed

I was there in the audience at Boston University at the Photo Resource Center when he first talked about this image. In the Q&A after the talk, someone asked about the image. Adams immediately replied that he did not talk about that image. He then began to pace around the stage for a minute and suddenly left. Minutes went by and nobody knew what to do. Eventually he came back out and said something to the effect: I always say that I don't talk about that image, but this time I heard myself saying it. I am going to have to talk about it sometime, so it may as well be now. He then went on about the details in this article and much more for at least twenty minutes. In the end, based on the ruined life of the Vietnamese officer, who he came to know, respect and admire, he maintained that given the chance to do it over again, he would not make this photograph. It was an incredibly moving moment that I will never forget.
 
A powerful image. I read the story about this image many years ago. There is also a video of the "execution" as well. Loan did not deserve the reputation he received.
 
Thank you for posting this. I am sharing it with everybody I know from that time, whose views were "informed' by the photograph.
 
kbg32 said:
There is also a video of the "execution" as well.
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It's in that documentary about Eddie Adams. One of the rare instances where a film doesn't have the same impact due to no sound. The photograph is more powerful.
 
With all respect to Eddie Adams and with no judgment of Loan, my perspective of the photograph hasn't changed. I support neither war (with special sadness for the Viet Nam war) not capital punishment.
 
If a picture creates a wrong impression when published without details on what exactly is going on than this usually isn't the fault of the photographer but the responsibility of the editor in chief isn't it? Once it has been published and opinion formed it is has hard to stop and correct it as it is stopping a false rumor from spreading on the internet.
 
I recall first seeing the photo as a young boy, and how shocking it was to me at the time. I had no idea of the full story behind it. Thank you for your posting.
 
icebear said:
... isn't the fault of the photographer but the responsibility of the editor in chief isn't it? ....
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IMHO, yes.

Bill, as always your contributions open our eyes and often make us think in a different way. Photographs can often tell a heck of a story, but often can leave people to draw conclusions they prefer.

Thank you.

B2 (;->
 
I remember seeing it initially as pure anti-war photo as it was portrayed by so many media groups, but later finding out that the original photo was meant to have been a pro-war piece with the context and background to it published along side that was ignored (Like how Tuan and Loan were close friends and that Tuan's daughter was Loan's God-daugter) really plays a part.

I guess it's also an exercise on how people will pick and sympathise with a single photo out of a whole collection to shape their views on things.

Thanks for the article Bill
 
This photo still persists as a powerful anti-war image, stronger than thousand words. There are no words that can justify public execution of war prisoners without trial.
 
dotur said:
This photo still persists as a powerful anti-war image, stronger than thousand words. There are no words that can justify public execution of war prisoners without trial.
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Aren't people killed in wars all of the time without trials?
 
Of course, you are right. All prisoners of war can be killed on the spot without trial, and that is why this one persists as an anti-war photo.
 
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