14 Dec 2024

Nick Ut: The photo that ended a war

From Saturday Morning, 10:05 am on 14 December 2024

Pulitzer prize winning photo journalist Nick Ut is best known for his iconic image 'The Terror of War' (also known as the 'Napalm Girl') of children running from a napalm attack. The image is widely credited with contributing to the end of the Vietnam war.

Nick went on to join AP in Los Angeles covering riots, earthquakes and celebrity trials.

Jon Kroll is an Emmy award-winning producer ('The Amazing Race', 'Gordon Ramsy Unchartered') who has directed and produced a documentary chronicling Nick's life and career 'From Hell to Hollywood'.

Now retired, Nick's an avid bird photographer. Susie caught up with Nick and Jon at Wellingtons Zealandia Wildlife Sanctuary to discuss Nick's career, the documentary, and to snap a few bird pics.

A young Nick Ut photographed in Vietnam. (PHOTO: Courtesy of Nick Ut)

Nick Ut wearing camo in Vietnam. (PHOTO: Courtesy Nick Ut)

Vietnam, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), District 3, the War Remnants Museum, photograph of the napalm girl by the American-vietnamese photographer Nick Ut. (PHOTO: GUIZIOU FRANCK / HEMIS.FR)

Nick Ut working on his last day at The Associated Press. He worked there for 51 years before retiring in 2017. (PHOTO: Jon Kroll)

Photographer Nick Ut poses with one of his many cameras. (PHOTO: Scott Templeton)

A monkey enjoys a warm bath. (PHOTO: Nick Ut)

Nick Ut shooting in the field. (PHOTO: Scott Templeton)

A giant inflatable rubber duck floats past the USS Iowa Battleship at the Port of Los Angeles on Aug 20, 2014. (PHOTO: Nick Ut)

Photographer Nick Ut. (PHOTO: Scott Templeton)

A Tui at Zealandia Wildlife Reserve 10th December 2024. (PHOTO: Nick Ut)

An Air New Zealand plane flies in front of the full moon. (PHOTO: Nick Ut)

Producer Jon Kroll with Photographer Nick Ut and RNZ Presenter Susie Ferguson. (PHOTO: RNZ / REECE BAKER)