Several months subsequent to the release of a film probing the origins of an acclaimed Vietnam War photograph, the Associated Press announced on Tuesday that it could not find “definitive evidence” to justify altering the existing credit of the photo, which has been attributed to Nick Ut for nearly 53 years.
The AP unveiled a comprehensive 96-page report—the second investigative effort spearheaded by the news organization in the last four months—analyzing the true photographer behind the iconic Pulitzer Prize-winning photo, infamous for depicting a young girl fleeing a napalm attack. Although the recent documentary “The Stringer,” premiered at Sundance in January, posits that the true photographer was Nguyen Thanh Nghe, the credit has long been ascribed to Nick Ut, an AP staff photographer.
Despite their inquiry, the AP stated that while it is “possible” Ut captured the photograph, they were unable to ascertain this conclusively due to various factors. These included the elapsed time since the event, the lack of critical evidence, technological constraints, and the passing of essential eyewitnesses.
Moreover, no conclusive proof emerged verifying that Nguyen was the photographer, as noted in the report.
“We’ve explored every angle we are aware of, approaching with comprehensive diligence and respect for all parties involved,” said Derl McCrudden, an AP vice president who oversees global news production. “Whether or not the credit is altered is immaterial to us, but it must be based on irrefutable facts and evidence. No definitive evidence disproves Nick Ut as the photographer.”
This recent AP study incorporated further interviews along with an examination of the photographic equipment, construction of a 3D model of the original scene, and analysis of surviving photo negatives from the shot taken on June 8, 1972.
The report disclosed discrepancies on both accounts. Notably, the award-winning photograph was reportedly shot using a Pentax camera, contrary to Ut’s long-standing assertion that he used a Leica. Nguyen, who had previously claimed to be working for NBC on that day, later retracted this statement during the AP investigation. Out of the ten individuals present on that day, Nguyen is the sole person disputing Ut’s role in capturing the photograph.
The report suggested that accepting Nguyen’s narrative necessitates several assumptions, including that his only sale to a Western news agency resulted in one of the most renowned images of the time.
Ut, maintaining his claim over the photograph, expressed relief over the AP’s investigative outcomes.
“This situation has been intensely challenging and distressing for me,” he commented in an official statement. “I am relieved that the record has been clarified and the truth restored.”