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In fifty-one years I've learned so much in my life.
I take pictures almost every day.
Ap is 24 hours.
If anything happens in la, they can call me.
Plane crash, earthquake, fire, they say "Nicky, go there."
I think one of the lawyers will come and
the daughter will come out in a couple of minutes.
And will hold a bag of clothes for him.
Brand new clothes.
Yeah. He just come out two minutes ago.
No, no. He'll come out over there.
The car will pick up on the corner, but he'll walk over there.
I came to la in 1977.
I looked at Hollywood and said, "my god!"
Vietnam and Hollywood, big difference.
My brother trained me how to take a picture.
He was always so busy covering the war in Vietnam.
In '65 when he came back, he showed me a little bit before he died.
Horst faas say, "too young. Go home."
"We don't want to give you a job because we worry you die again like your brother."
We had a family gathering for the Vietnamese new year
in my house in the mekong delta.
And I hear the viet cong attack
not too far from my house.
When I started working at ap, I always had a company camera
in case something happen, then I had a picture.
That's why I started taking pictures of the fighting.
Then I come back and show ap.
My boss Horst faas said, "Nicky!"
He always yell at me.
He said, “I don't want you to cover the war."
But I say I don't care. I want to go out and take pictures.
Some photographer said to my boss, Horst faas,
said, ”nicky got shot."
And he said, "shit."
Then I come in back office
and he said, "Nicky, I told you already!"
But one, one month later I go again.
I'm there like 7:30 in the morning.
I see a lot of bombs,
a lot of black smoke.
Air strikes all try all the time.
At noon, I look at pagoda,
I saw the south Vietnamese army
throw a smoke grenade
to guide bombs.
They drop four napalm.
The napalm go like this... very slow.
Then I have my 300 and
I follow the bomb.
And the bombs exploded!
And after the black smoke I saw the first woman holding a towel...
To put her eyes because there was too much smoke.
She's running.
Then more women, and children, and dogs.
I keep shooting and shooting. I said, "there are people still in the village."
Then like three minutes later, an old man holding a baby.
Then another woman with a baby. She walked very slow.
She carried a one-year-old boy, her grandchild, in her arms.
You could see the skin come off he was burned so badly.
My grandchild...
She called, "help me! Help me!"
"My grandchild!"
She keeps running, about a hundred yards.
And she stops.
I focus on her to get a picture of the baby.
When I click...
The baby died.
And in my camera viewfinder
I looked right in the smoke,
and I saw the girl like this.
Arms like this running.
I said, "why is she not wearing clothes?"
When she passed me,
I saw her skin come off, the body burned so badly.
I said, "no, I don't want no more pictures of her."
I think she'll die in minutes.
And she's shaking her body
and says, "oh, I want water. I'm dying."
Then I borrowed one raincoat from the soldiers
and covered her body.
One of her uncles run up and said,
"can you take all the children to hospital?"
I said, "yes."
And all the children go in my Van.
By the time I got to cu chi hospital
I open the door and run inside right away.
I went to see the nurse and the Vietnamese doctor.
I say, "please help."
"We have so many wounded children."
She says, "sorry, we can't because this is local hospital."
First, you see a lot of people get hurt in here."
"There's not enough medicine."
And, uh...
They asked me, "can you bring all the kids to Saigon hospital?"
The children's hospital.
I say, "in two more hours they all die."
I tell them.
They keep saying "sorry" to me.
Isay, "..|.
I hold my media pass and said, "I'm associated press."
"If they die, the picture is front page tomorrow.".
How are you?
We'll take a picture. Okay?
I share a lot of pictures of my grandchildren on Facebook.
People love my grandchildren.
They say, "Nicky, your grand-daughter is so beautiful."
Do it again.
The light is so bad.
Not yet.
Calm down.
Don't look at the camera.
Ap doesn't want me to retire.
They tell me, "no, Nicky, don't retire."
But I said I have to retire.
Fifty-one years of my life.
I can't work forever.
I want to enjoy my grandchildren
and my family.
The American embassy
ordered the media worked for American companies to go.
We went to an ap staff meeting
with Horst fass, Peter arnett and my bureau chief, George esper.
They say they "don't know when but we know that we're leaving,"
because the viet cong attacked very close to Saigon.
Horst fass says, "Nicky, go home and tell goodbye your family."
I went home and got my camera bag and a little bit of clothes.
It was very painful when I said goodbye to my mom.
I told her I was coming back.
We didn't believe Saigon would fall.
In the meeting they asked me,
"Nicky, which one of your family do you want to bring?"
I sayjust bring my sister-in-law and her daughter.
I really wanted to stay, but my company don't want me to stay.
They warned me and said, "Nicky, you'll be in trouble."
"You might be going jail by the new government."
I said, "I don't think so." You know.
But the company said "no more."
"Nicky, we have to go."
We had an American c-141.
All the companies, their families... abc, nbc, CBS.
There were a lot of people in that airplane.
When my plane landing in the Philippines,
I learned we lost.
I thought... I don't think I'm coming back.
My boss says, Nicky, "you want to go move somewhere?"
"We'll give you two choices."
"Washington DC. Or Los Angeles?"
I said, "my god. I want to go to Hollywood.".
When I came to la, my picture editor said,
"Nicky, I want you to send you on an assignment."
I asked "what's the assignment?"
"Baseball, Nicky!"
"I want you to go cover the angels."
I said, "where is the assignment?"
He said, "you have to drive to orange county. Anaheim stadium"
that's a long drive.
I come out and set up my 600 lens.
I look at the guy next to me. Clicka, clicka, click.
I said, "what picture did he shoot?"
I didn't shoot anything.
I say, "what did that guy shoot pictures for?"
Why are the guys running around all the time?
Fucking look like Vietcong running.
I was so nervous.
After like four or five innings, I have nothing.
I bring my film back to la.
My boss said, "Nicky, you have good pictures of the angels?"
I said, "what do you mean good picture? I don't have nothing."
He looked at me angry and said,
"you don't have a picture?”
“Are you kidding?"
I said, "I don't have a shot.”
“Every guy is running everywhere."
"I'm very sorry I don't have a picture."
I covered baseball many, many, many years.
Mostly they allow, like, the mayor,
the governor, all the Hollywood people.
I don't believe they allowed a photographer to throw the first pitch.
I'm nervous a little bit, but I'm so happy.
Mike scioscia, the manager of the angels, came to say hello to me.
I said, "I took your picture many times. I know you so well."
When I threw the ball, I felt special.
I really enjoyed that day so much.
Now I'm a big fan of the angels.
Hey, Richard, what's the afternoon assignment?
Okay, I'll be there.
That's a big local story here in la.
And we have to cover him.
Many people are asking why he's not in jail.
You know, I think after forty years,
I must be a lawyer.
I've shot so many people in trouble
in every court I covered in la.
I covered oj
almost every day in the courthouse.
I know every lawyer...
Johnny Cochran...
All the famous lawyers I know very well.
They help me a lot.
In the second trial of oj,
I covered for almost two years.
Every, every day.
Before the verdict,
oj's former wife's family
said, "I want Nicky to cover."
They not allow any photographer,
only me.
When they won the verdict,
I had a picture front page everywhere.
My editor said, "Nicky, I want to go to west Hollywood
to cover Paris Hilton in jail.
Then I went there,
parked my car,
I see like three or four hundred people.
I'm a short guy.
I said no way I'll get a picture,
no way.
Too many people.
I'm lucky.
All the TV cameramen are all my friends.
Every time I go somewhere the TV cameramen say,
"Nick! Come here!"
First I saw the father and mother of Paris Hilton
standing near the entrance door.
Before the car passed, they stopped for one second,
right were I'm standing.
Bang.bang.
Fly on free bird!
My battery got no charge
so I don't know if I had a picture.
Then I give my card to one of ap photographers
to move my picture.
I go to see Paris Hilton in jail.
I parked my car, and la times photographer, Lori shepler,
says, "Nicky, you had a good picture of Paris Hilton."
I said, "are you kidding?"
"No way."
I stand at the window.
I didn't believe I had a good picture.
And CNN run the story right away.
"The man that took the picture of napalm
today took a picture of Paris Hilton in jail.
I said, "what?"
You see good morning america, nbc news, everyone covered my story.
A lot of waiting.
Crazy job.
Sometime all day for just one picture.
Nick ut is no stranger to danger.
Nick has to be right in the middle of it.
So he's right there with us capturing what others cannot capture.
Every year I cover so many wildfires.
A ton of fires everywhere from here to San Diego.
There's more fire right there.
Too far away.
Fire is so dangerous.
My car almost burned many times
because the fire was too close.
Sometimes the fire comes right at you
and you have to run.
I won't get to cover no more fires.
And I won't get to see you all the time!
We worked together many, many year.
Every time I see him he says,
"Nicky, I want you to come with me."
"I'll show you exactly where."
My eye is always looking like a war picture.
That's why on every assignment
my eye sees that war.
Like fire burning like napalm.
Black smoke like a bomb.
I had trouble during Rodney king in central L.A.
I covered the first day,
they burned everywhere.
You see the black smoke, like war.
I went to Florence street in central la.
One man hold shotgun wanted to shoot me.
He said, "I hate Koreans."
I told him, "I'm not Korean. I'm sorry, I'm not Korean."
Then he said, "I hate Asian people."
I said-i said, I don't want to deal with this guy.
I better walk away.
When the national guard came in, I walked with the national guard.
But very dangerous for the first two days in central la.
It's been many years.
Thank you.
I remember that day.
So many people were out here.
Yeah, yeah.
They do everything here.
I remember you were yelling with your hands like this.
Everywhere you want.
Yeah. My god, I don't believe I meet you 25 year later, my friend.
One o'clock.
Okay.
Alright. One o'clock is good.
Today is my last day.
Tomorrow I'll be very sad.
I will miss all local assignments.
I worked forty years.
I know everybody.
Every time I see them
they say, "oh, Nicky! Nicky!"
You know?
Going to miss everybody.
My last day I wanted my picture more like earthquake, fire...
Something more "big story."
I wanted more action my last day.
Big story you can see your name in every paper everywhere.
This picture was for the ap, for the story.
Not very exciting, but a lot of my journalist friends
found out it was my last day.
They all said, "oh, Nicky, so sad. We love you."
"We'll miss you."
Thanks. That's so kind.
Yeah, yeah.
It was more fun for me to say goodbye to all my friends.
I don't think I see them after I retire, but
I enjoyed so much that day.
Yeah. I know. The light is better.
That's it. Bye-bye.
You know?
They wanted to give me another assignment
they wanted to give me another assignment
the ap president said, "Nicky,
take a long vacation
come back any time you want."
I think that's it.
Fifty-one years.
My god.
When I back to office I return all my camera gear.
I'll miss all my gear, too, because I use it almost every day.
I treat all the camera and lens like my family.
Sometimes I sleep with them next to me.
If something happens, I have the gear right away.
Two bodies
right? Two body.
Two.
I have one more to. Yeah.
Uh, huh.
Thank you, my friend.
So happy work with you for many years, Dave.
All right.
Thank you.
I don't go somewhere without my Leica.
I have a freelance assignment,
take pictures of wildflower superbloom and a model.
Very exciting for me.
I never do that. This the first time.
They're everywhere here.
Ap, they kept me busy running around everywhere,
covering press conferences and news stories. Action.
This been by myself. More free.
Right there. Right? Look good. Yeah.
Can you reflect the light?
Because her face is too dark now.
Any side so we can take a look.
Still hot here on her nose.
It's better right there. Yeah.
Oh, that beautiful?
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
Look at that.
The light is beautiful, right?
I want to check one... check one and how they come out first.
Most of the models that ap covered were fashion.
They walk around and show all the clothes.
But never shoot with one girl like this myself.
Look at the light first.
How did that come out?
Beautiful.
Okay. Right there. Right there.
Right there.
You put your hair, move your hair.
Don't look too much camera.
Okay, ready.
One, two, three, four.
Yeah. Like that.
That's good.
You got the wind.
Very good.
Yeah. Like that is good.
This model is very beautiful.
And the pictures of her are amazing.
You tell her, she listens to you.
She knows how to move for the camera.
Yeah, can you hold it like... good.
Okay, one more.
That's nice like that.
Now you go to lunch.
You amazing in the photos.
My god. Beautiful.
Every month me and a group of photographers
take a picture of airplanes across the full moon.
We want pictures of the airplane exactly inside of the moon.
Fun. Not easy.
Some photographers say "oh, that picture is easy." But not easy.
I shot only 400.
I shoot 400. All the time.
You can shoot 800, too.
Yeah, you can put 800.
The plane will hit like that.
It's going to go like this way.
Oh! God damned pilot.
Getting close. Very close.
Watch out for this guy right here.
This one maybe hit.
Oh, that's going to hit.
Big hit.
Oh!
Good picture!
Beautiful, huh?
Nailed it, huh?
I like this one too.
Yeah right.
Fucking Photoshop.
We're going to Oregon.
The eclipse.
Woo hoo!
We're driving from la. To Oregon.
I don't think we'll get a hotel.
Sleep in the car a couple hours and then drive back.
And I'm sleepy.
Maybe when we come back we'll book one hotel.
Go take a shower, feel better and go home.
We planned last minute.
That's why don't have hotel.
I have a hammock so I sleep under the trees.
But when I was sleeping, I was worried about the bears.
So, I go back in the car right away.
Too cold for a Vietnamese guy.
I've got the filter ready here.
I'm ready my friend.
Look at me.
Yeah, I'm ready.
Beautiful.
That's a beautiful shot of the eclipse.
Oh, my god, that's an amazing picture.
A wonderful trip.
Me and, and my friend, Mark Harris,
he says "Nicky, we're going to Mexico and go diving
and swim with the whale shark."
But for me, I'm nervous.
I've never done that before.
Ok, buddy, now.
Go!
Oh, no. I go back.
I went in the water for like five minutes.
I saw a lot of sharks there.
I said I'm worried they bite me.
That why I grabbed the guy and said I want to go up.
And got out right away.
You see, buddy?
Yeah. I saw a big one down there.
Nice!
Very big.
That shark was bigger than me.
No next time.
No more.
No, no.
They said, "why are you going up?"
I said, "I don't want them to bite me
like they eat the Vietnamese egg roll."
I said, "eeee. I'm going up."
I don't want to stay there.
I went to Shanghai and Taipei.
They invited me to talk about my pictures from Vietnam.
And sometimes teaching photo journalists there.
That's a lot of fun for me.
You don't want to stay home and just watch TV.
They take care of me very well.
They treat me like a king.
When I was in India,
I had 100 photographers covering my story.
You could see pictures of me on the papers every day.
Even the number one movie star in India wanted to come see me.
Hello, George!
When first I saw him I said, "I know him.
That's George takei."
The war in Vietnam was too long.
After the fall of Saigon, we were so angry
we lost the country.
George takei is so nice.
We talked for two hours. He showed a lot of pictures
and we talked about his family when he was a kid
in the Japanese camp.
I stayed only three weeks in the camp.
Refugee camp, after the fall of Saigon.
But we were so lucky, not like you.
World war two was different than the Vietnam war.
When the Vietnamese came here we didn't have any trouble
because the south Vietnam fought communists.
And america took care of the Vietnamese refugees very well.
I've covered a lot of gay marriage protests everywhere.
One day we, uh,
I'll invite you to a Vietnamese lunch.
Thank you.
Good seeing you.
Thank you, George.
My god.
I always love Vietnam because it's my country.
I want to stay here longer.
I never stay there for one week.
I always stay for at least two, three weeks.
Because I love Vietnam. I have so many friends.
This is the best in the mekong delta.
The smell. Awww.
I love the smell.
Goodbye. I'll see you again.
You take care.
The picture of the monk on fire during the protests of 1963...
Right there.
Doan cong tinh is a very good photographer.
Amazing photographer.
We've become very good friends.
We didn't meet when the war was raging on and both sides
were trading bullets constantly.
Not until very recently that we got to know each other
during the times Nick ut comes back to Vietnam.
Even though it was our first meeting,
and even considering the fact that we were enemies in the past,
we connected instantly as fellow reporters.
We have mutual respect for each other.
I told them they had a photocopy of my photo.
I told them I would get them a better copy.
You can see him in the picture of napalm girl.
He was rewinding the film.
That's me.
After I take a picture, I rolled my camera out,
take the film out and I send back to Saigon for upi.
I change a new roll film so I can take pictures more.
My brother.
I'm so happy to see a picture of my brother in the museum right here.
The picture very sad.
And he died so young, too.
He wanted me to become photographer.
After my brother died I said, "I hope I get a job one day."
I love my brother so much.
-Good bye.
-Okay. Goodbye.
-Big hug.
Alright.
We're going to trang bang.
Every time I come to Vietnam I always visit Kim phuc family
in trang bang.
Kim's cousin
opened a coffee shop there.
Same place where they drop napalm.
In here. Right here. Right here.
You can stop right now.
There's pagoda right here.
Where have you been since you came back here?
Took you long enough to come see me.
How are you?
Where is your brother?
I am doing great here.
Where is your little brother?
He went home.
Right here, June 8, 1972.
Four napalm come down and hit right outside pagoda.
This is a new highway.
During the Vietnam war, there was no highway.
That's why when they opened the highway the pagoda had to move.
When you were in Saigon and riding to trang bang,
you could see pagoda right on the highway.
Today you don't see the pagoda anymore.
How many kids were playing?
Kim phuc, the children in the neighborhood and me.
We took turns playing skipping rope.
Kim phuc and I swung the rope for the others to jump.
For the kids to jump?
-For the kids to jump.
That was when I was about 10.
My mom went to work and left three of us at home.
We were aware of the bombing at the time
so we followed Kim phuc to hide in this very temple.
The 25th infantry division was present here as well.
The civilians hid inside the temple while the 25th infantry division stayed outside.
Then they told us that the temple was going to be bombarded.
That was why Kim phuc, along with many of our relatives, began to run out.
When the bombs dropped, we were scattered around, hoping to save ourselves.
I was lucky as I took a turn that led to here.
Kim phuc was running straight this way with nowhere to hide.
That was why she took the hit.
There were other casualties as well.
Let's go to the spot.
Just about a hundred meters from here.
Let's go to the spot.
I'm fine. Just scared of the traffic.
Yeah, right there.
About 100 yards as I remember.
Trang bang change a lot.
During 1972 you never see people walk along the highway.
Because viet cong sniper can shoot you. Kill you.
Today there is a hundred thousand motorbikes
riding in traffic everywhere.
And outside the pagoda, now they have a stop sign.
The red line.
During the war you didn't have the red line.
I remember you ran about 100 yards.
-About 100 yards.
We're on highway 1 right now.
After the bomb,
the grandmother holding the baby
and calling "help me! Help my grandchild!"
She stopped right here.
Then I start running
and shot the picture of Kim phuc over there.
I stand right there on highway 1.
When the... after the bomb
then they all run together
and stop right here.
Couple shots.
And she and her brother run this way.
And Kim phuc run where I put the water on her.
Nobody believes she still alive.
I say she married now. Still alive. Lives in Canada.
Uh, she liked this one right?
I better try...
That's better.
I better do like this.
And Michael Jackson.
And now...
The duck one.
I don't see there.
Look, go look.
Yeah, okay.
Throw Dolly Parton in there.
Yeah, him.
This one.
This one right here.
In central Vietnam.
Uh, uh... April, uh...
February 1975, before the fall of Saigon.
After the bomb, she cannot find her house.
She say "where my house?"
A lot of house...
Very close to trang bang, too.
Not yet.
Monterey park.
That's my son.
We have the woman. We have this.
We have this. This.
I think that's good, you know?
Very excited for the Leica show,
they told me over four or five hundred people
come here tonight.
I had an amazing life.
I'm retired from ap, but I'm not done yet.
Still more coming.