A freelance photographer from Vietnam has recently claimed authorship of the iconic image of a naked girl fleeing a napalm attack in South Vietnam, which has long been credited to a staff photographer from The Associated Press. Nguyen Thanh Nghe made this assertion during the premiere of the documentary “The Stringer” at the Sundance Film Festival in Park City, Utah.
Despite this claim, the AP conducted its own investigation and reaffirmed that they have no reason to believe anyone other than the long-credited photographer, Nick Ut, captured the photo.
Nghe, however, continues to assert that he is the true photographer behind the famous image. He claims to have taken the photo on June 8, 1972, in the town of Trang Bang. The AP, on the other hand, stands by their conclusion that Ut was the photographer responsible for the iconic picture.
The documentary filmmakers have been urged by the AP to release their contributors from non-disclosure agreements and share any visual analysis they commissioned. The news agency is committed to uncovering the truth behind this historic photo.
Despite the conflicting claims, the debate over the true photographer of this impactful image continues, highlighting the importance of journalistic integrity and accuracy in storytelling.
