Nick Ut

Huỳnh Công Út, widely recognized as Nick Ut, is a distinguished Vietnamese-American photographer born on March 29, 1951. His career as a photojournalist began with the Associated Press in Los Angeles, where he gained international acclaim for his powerful imagery.

In 1972, Ut captured the iconic photograph titled The Terror of War, which depicts children fleeing from a devastating napalm attack during the Vietnam War. This haunting image not only earned him the Pulitzer Prize for Spot News Photography in 1973 but also the prestigious World Press Photo of the Year award the same year.

Despite his accolades, the authorship of The Terror of War has come under scrutiny following the release of the documentary The Stringer in 2025. The film suggested that Nguyễn Thành Nghệ was the true author of the photograph, while the Associated Press maintained its attribution to Ut. In light of these developments, World Press Photo has temporarily suspended the authorship attribution pending further evidence.

After a remarkable career spanning decades, Nick Ut retired in 2017. His work continues to be celebrated, with examples featured in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.