[Unstagram] So Who Took the "Napalm Girl" Photo?

The Debate Over the Photographer of the Vietnam War Photo Claims Scientific Analysis,
But Context and Judgment Are Often Shaped More by Preconceptions Than by Facts

The documentary "Stringer: Who Took That Photo?", which delves into the story behind one of the most iconic and representative photographs of the Vietnam War, has been released on Netflix, bringing the debate over the photographer to a new phase. The discussion centers on the photo known as "Napalm Girl." This article contains spoilers about the film, though they are largely predictable and not central to the main point of this piece. Through analysis of video and photographs, as well as testimonies from various individuals, the film argues that the photographer of this image was not Associated Press photographer Nick Ut. Many viewers come to accept this claim. The filmmakers track down the photographer who asserts that he took the photo, corroborated by his Vietnamese colleagues from that era.

When World Press Photo (WPP) withdrew the photographer credit for this image earlier this year, many photographers strongly opposed and criticized the decision. They perceived it as an attack on Nick Ut, who had won both the Pulitzer Prize and the World Press Photo Award for this image and had enjoyed the highest honors a photographer could attain throughout his life. They saw the recent challenge to the authorship of a photograph over fifty years old as a backlash against the heroic narrative, or simply as envy. Many people began arguing about the controversy without even watching the documentary.

According to the film, Nguyen Tan Ngail, who was a stringer at the time, handed over the film containing the photograph to the Associated Press. Horst Faas, the head of photography for South Asia at the time, decided to submit the photo under the name of Nick Ut, who was affiliated with AP. The documentary begins with the account of editor Carl Robinson, who entered Ut's name as the photographer at Faas's instruction. This may have been standard practice, or it could have been the independent decision of a powerful figure within the media. Ngail recalls that on the day the photo was taken (June 8, 1972), he received a print of the photo and $20 as payment, then went out for a drink. The print, he recalls, was later torn up by his conservative wife.

A scene from "Stringer." Another photographer present at the scene said that the person holding the camera in the photo is likely Nguyen Tan Ngail, the photographer who took the picture. Seven Foundation

After the documentary was released into the living rooms of the public via Netflix, the dynamics shifted. However, the main arguments and positions of each side have not changed significantly. Those present at the scene, company officials from the time, colleagues, and supporters all present their own theories based on their memories and circumstances. If one tries to identify the original creator (the photographer) of the image based solely on the resulting photograph, that person would have had to be at the right place at the right time, holding a camera and responding appropriately to the situation. While effort and skill are necessary, these are not always decisive factors. Physical and objective conditions provide a rational basis for inference, but most people’s judgments are more influenced by memory, context, and preconceptions. A hundred people who witness the same event will have a hundred different recollections.

The Associated Press maintains its position that "there is no reason to change the credited photographer." Unless one side withdraws its claim or more definitive evidence emerges, the debate is likely to continue for some time. The vastly different pasts and regrets of the two individuals involved may eventually be buried by time and controversy. Only the photograph itself will stand as a symbol of historical fact, while those involved will live on with either the knowledge of the truth or with what they believe to be true in their hearts.