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Newspaper: Capa's Iconic War Photo 'Faked'

By Rob Quinn,  Newser Staff

Posted Jul 23, 2009 1:24 AM CDT
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(Newser) – One of the most famous war photos of all time was a fake, according to Spanish newspaper El Periodico. The paper says its investigation into Robert Capa's Spanish Civil War "falling soldier" photo—which appears to show a shot militiaman at the moment of death—concluded that the photo was actually taken 30 miles away from any fighting and therefore must have been staged, Artdaily reports.

The 1936 photo helped cement Capa's fame as a war photographer. "It is tempting to think that the next 18 years, in which Capa showed almost suicidal bravery in China, Tunisia, Sicily, Naples, Anzio, Normandy, the Ardennes, Leipzig, Israel, and Indochina, where he was killed by a mine in 1954, were dedicated to redeeming an original sin," El Periodico writes. Another theory, however, holds that the soldier was posing for a photo when he was shot by a sniper.

This 1936 photo by Robert Capa during the Spanish Civil War was staged far from the fighting, according to Spanish newspaper El Periodico.
This 1936 photo by Robert Capa during the Spanish Civil War was staged far from the fighting, according to Spanish newspaper El Periodico.   (Robert Capa/Magnum)
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COMMENTS
Showing 3 of 8 comments
Timinator2K
Jul 23, 2009 12:35 PM CDT
Newser has this annoying, petty, habit of zapping comments that they don't like or, deem "offensive" or, just-for-the-hell-of-it. I find the hypocrisy of Newser's censorship amusing. Freedom of the Press! Freedom of Speech!...except what Newser doesn't like and then they censor...very Obama-esque. HA!
NxBigmouthery
Jul 23, 2009 11:49 AM CDT
I know who CK is and what it does, I'm just wondering why Kg is asking it to 'stop' when there's no CK comment here. Is it related to the drooling spammy rant from elsewhere?
jagerhans
Jul 23, 2009 9:34 AM CDT
what kind of news is that ? it is widely accepted that the picture in argument is a fake. it is years that this is known the fake was revealed five or more years ago. it is definitely NO NEWS.

 
photography • photograph • photographers • Spanish Civil War • fake photos • Robert Capa

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