Horst Fass, photojournalist

There is an interesting opinion column in today's (Dec. 8, 2017) NY Times, "The Man Who Shot Vietnam," about Horst Fass, the chief photographer for the Associated Press in Vietnam during the war.

What is most interesting about Mr. Fass is what he did as a photojournalist, what he went through to capture the images he did, and how his and his colleagues' efforts changed the war photojournalists covered wars and the way readers understood them. The column does not include any verbal mention of the equipment he used.

Take a good look at the first of the photos accompanying the column, though. If you're someone who reads posts on this forum, you will probably recognize the cameras strapped to his chest.

Here's the link: The Man Who Shot Vietnam

No, owning a Leica doesn't make you a photojournalist, never mind one as effective and influential as Horst Fass. But it's still interesting to look at that photo and reflect on how some photographers who used them changed the way the rest of the world sees things.

Some truly amazing work in a very scary place. I don't doubt that such work is still being done in war zones all over the world but we see nearly none of it. As many ugly stories as I covered I had too little confidence that I would make it out alive.

Rick H.