Born in Hungary, Robert Capa is regarded as one of the father's of photojournalism. He is credited with going further than anyone else at the time to get that shot, to show that truth, to get in the thick of things and come out again. He covered five different wars including the Spanish Civil War and the landing at Normandy.
His shots are often action shots taken right in the battlefield. His most famous and controversial photograph is Loyalist Militiaman at the Moment of Death, Cerro Muriano, September 5, 1936 or simply The Fallen Soldier.
The photo depicts a man just shot but many have disputed it's authenticity. Regardless of the truth, the shot is a powerful one demonstrating just how close Capa was willing to get in order to show the truth.
I have no idea how Capa was able to cover five wars. The violence he saw is unimaginable. Death was certainly everywhere and so was Capa, camera in hand ready to snap his pictures. Capa was an interesting, pragmatic man whose career started with a lie. With his wife they created the persona of Robert Capa, a wealthy American photographer who they claimed to work for. Soon the ploy was uncovered but Capa had already proven himself a competent and amazing photographer.
His most famous works are the shots he took at Normandy. He landed with the troops, witnessed the grisly killings and suffering and came out of it alive. Unfortunately, out of the hundred or so photographs he took only eleven survived due to a mishap in the darkroom. The surviving photos are grainy, blurred action shots.
Robert Capa died doing what he always did....getting closer to the action. He stepped on a land mine while covering the First Indochina War.
Capa accomplished much in his life. He helped to create Magnum Photos a cooperative exchange of freelance photographers and he helped to show the world the truth about war.
Various Links:
This is War! A Time's photo essay of some of Capa's work: http://www.time.com/time/photogallery/0,29307,1648361_1419267,00.html
Magnum Photos: http://www.magnumphotos.com/Archive/C.aspx?VP=XSpecific_MAG.AgencyHome_VPage&pid=2K7O3R1VX08V
Information on Capa: http://www.photo-seminars.com/Fame/capa.htm
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