Jones Griffiths was born in Rhuddlan in Denbighshire, North Wales, to Joseph Griffiths, who supervised the local trucking service of the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, and Catherine Jones, Rhuddlan's district nurse, who ran a small maternity clinic at home.[1] The couple had three sons, of whom Philip was the eldest.
Jones Griffiths never married, saying it was a bourgeois notion, but that he had had "significant" relationships.[5][4] Survived by Fanella Ferrato and Katherine Holden, his daughters from long-term relationships with Donna Ferrato and Heather Holden, he died from cancer on 19 March 2008.[6][7][8][9]
Journalist John Pilger wrote in tribute to Griffiths soon after his death:
I never met a foreigner who cared as wisely for the Vietnamese, or about ordinary people everywhere under the heel of great power, as Philip Jones Griffiths. He was the greatest photographer and one of the finest journalists of my lifetime, and a humanitarian to match. His photographs of ordinary people, from his beloved Wales to Vietnam and the shadows of Cambodia, make you realise who the true heroes are. He was one of them.[10]
CareerEdit
Boy destroying piano at Pant-y-Waen, South Wales, by Jones Griffiths, 1961.This woman was tagged with the designation VNC (Vietnamese civilian), Vietnam, by Jones Griffiths, 1967.
Griffiths started work as a full-time freelance photographer in 1961 for The Observer, travelling to Algeria in 1962. He arrived in Vietnam in 1966, working for the Magnum agency.[8]
Magnum found his images difficult to sell to American magazines, as they concentrated on the suffering of the Vietnamese people and reflected his view of the war as an episode in the continuing decolonisation of former European possessions. However, he was eventually able to get a scoop that the American outlets liked: photographs of Jackie Kennedy holidaying with a male friend in Cambodia. The proceeds from these photos enabled him to continue his coverage of Vietnam and to publish Vietnam Inc. in 1971.
Vietnam Inc. had a major influence on American perceptions of the war, and became a classic of photojournalism.[11][12] The book was the result of Griffiths' work between 1966 and 1971 in the country, and it stands as one of the most detailed surveys of any conflict. It includes critical descriptions of the horrors of the war as well as a study of Vietnamese rural life, and views from serving American soldiers. Probably one of its most quoted passages is of a US army source discussing napalm:
We sure are pleased with those backroom boys at Dow. The original product wasn't so hot – if the gooks were quick they could scrape it off. So the boys started adding polystyrene – now it sticks like shit to a blanket. But if the gooks jumped under water it stopped burning, so they started adding Willie Peter (white phosphorus) so's to make it burn better. And just one drop is enough, it'll keep on burning right down to the bone so they die anyway from phosphorus poisoning.[13]
Henri Cartier-Bresson said of Griffiths' "Not since Goya has anyone portrayed war like Philip Jones Griffiths."[9] The South Vietnamese president, Nguyễn Văn Thiệu, criticised Griffiths' work, remarking "Let me tell you there are many people I don't want back in my country, but I can assure you Mr. Griffiths name is at the top of the list."[3]
In 1973, Griffiths covered the Yom Kippur War. He then worked in Cambodia from 1973 to 1975. In 1980, he became the president of Magnum, a position he held for five years. In 2001 Vietnam Inc. was reprinted with a foreword by Noam Chomsky. Subsequent books have included Dark Odyssey, a collection of his best pictures and Agent Orange, dealing with the impact of the US defoliant Agent Orange on postwar generations in Vietnam.
Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation for the Study of WarEdit
After becoming aware of his terminal condition in 2001, Jones Griffiths launched a Foundation to preserve his archives. As trustees, his two daughters helm the Foundation. In 2015, the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth acquired the entire Philip Jones Griffiths archive, which includes approximately 150,000 slides and 30,000 prints.[14]
^Jones Griffiths, Philip (1996). Dark Odyssey. Aperture. ISBN978-0-89381-645-2. The introduction by Murray Sayle continues "In the Welsh manner, Philip uses the name of both his parents, to distinguish himself from all the other Joneses and Griffithses of the neighbourhood."
^ abHarrison, Graham (3 May 2008). . Photo Histories, the photographers' history of photography. Photo Histories. Archived from the original on 31 March 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
^ abHopkinson, Amanda (24 March 2008). "Guardian Obituary". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 20 February 2010.
^ abBrockway, Anthony (1 June 2004). . The Guardian. London. Archived from the original on 3 June 2008. Retrieved 15 July 2008.
^Winslow, Donald R. (19 March 2008). . NPPA. Archived from the original on 24 May 2008. Retrieved 14 July 2008.
^Kennedy, Randy (20 March 2008). "Philip Jones Griffiths, photographer, Dies at 72". The New York Times. Retrieved 3 May 2008.
^ abFranklin, Stuart (19 March 2008). . Magnum Photos. Archived from the original on 24 March 2008.
^Pilger, John. "A tribute to Philip Jones Griffiths, who understood war & peace, & people" 2 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine. 26 March 2008. Accessed July 2008.
^"Vietnam Inc., Part I: A Photo-Journey Through the Villages, Fields, and Alleys of a Devastated Nation", Democracy Now!, 23 January 2002.
^"Vietnam Inc., Part II: A Photo-Journey through the Villages, Fields, and Alleys of a Devastated Nation", Democracy Now!, 24 January 2002.
^"National Library of Wales home for Jones Griffiths archive". BBC News.
External linksEdit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philip Jones Griffiths.
Official website
Magnum Photos profile page for Jones Griffiths
50 Years on the Frontlines, Magnum
October 18, 2023
philip, jones, griffiths, february, 1936, march, 2008, welsh, photojournalist, known, coverage, vietnam, born, 1936, february, 1936rhuddlan, denbighshire, walesdied19, march, 2008, 2008, aged, london, englandnationalitywelshoccupationphotojournalismwebsitewww,. Philip Jones Griffiths 18 February 1936 19 March 2008 was a Welsh photojournalist known for his coverage of the Vietnam War Philip Jones GriffithsBorn 1936 02 18 18 February 1936Rhuddlan Denbighshire WalesDied19 March 2008 2008 03 19 aged 72 London EnglandNationalityWelshOccupationPhotojournalismWebsitewww wbr philipjonesgriffiths wbr org Contents 1 Biography 2 Career 3 Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation for the Study of War 4 Books 5 References 6 External linksBiography EditJones Griffiths was born in Rhuddlan in Denbighshire North Wales to Joseph Griffiths who supervised the local trucking service of the London Midland and Scottish Railway and Catherine Jones Rhuddlan s district nurse who ran a small maternity clinic at home 1 The couple had three sons of whom Philip was the eldest On leaving St Asaph s Grammar School at age 18 Philip a pacifist and member of the Peace Pledge Union was registered by the North Western Tribunal as a conscientious objector obviating conscription to military service 2 better source needed He studied pharmacy in Liverpool and worked in London as the night manager at the Piccadilly branch of Boots while also working as a part time photographer for the Manchester Guardian 3 4 His first photograph was of a friend taken with the family Brownie in a rowing boat off Holyhead 5 Jones Griffiths never married saying it was a bourgeois notion but that he had had significant relationships 5 4 Survived by Fanella Ferrato and Katherine Holden his daughters from long term relationships with Donna Ferrato and Heather Holden he died from cancer on 19 March 2008 6 7 8 9 Journalist John Pilger wrote in tribute to Griffiths soon after his death I never met a foreigner who cared as wisely for the Vietnamese or about ordinary people everywhere under the heel of great power as Philip Jones Griffiths He was the greatest photographer and one of the finest journalists of my lifetime and a humanitarian to match His photographs of ordinary people from his beloved Wales to Vietnam and the shadows of Cambodia make you realise who the true heroes are He was one of them 10 Career Edit nbsp Boy destroying piano at Pant y Waen South Wales by Jones Griffiths 1961 nbsp This woman was tagged with the designation VNC Vietnamese civilian Vietnam by Jones Griffiths 1967 Griffiths started work as a full time freelance photographer in 1961 for The Observer travelling to Algeria in 1962 He arrived in Vietnam in 1966 working for the Magnum agency 8 Magnum found his images difficult to sell to American magazines as they concentrated on the suffering of the Vietnamese people and reflected his view of the war as an episode in the continuing decolonisation of former European possessions However he was eventually able to get a scoop that the American outlets liked photographs of Jackie Kennedy holidaying with a male friend in Cambodia The proceeds from these photos enabled him to continue his coverage of Vietnam and to publish Vietnam Inc in 1971 Vietnam Inc had a major influence on American perceptions of the war and became a classic of photojournalism 11 12 The book was the result of Griffiths work between 1966 and 1971 in the country and it stands as one of the most detailed surveys of any conflict It includes critical descriptions of the horrors of the war as well as a study of Vietnamese rural life and views from serving American soldiers Probably one of its most quoted passages is of a US army source discussing napalm We sure are pleased with those backroom boys at Dow The original product wasn t so hot if the gooks were quick they could scrape it off So the boys started adding polystyrene now it sticks like shit to a blanket But if the gooks jumped under water it stopped burning so they started adding Willie Peter white phosphorus so s to make it burn better And just one drop is enough it ll keep on burning right down to the bone so they die anyway from phosphorus poisoning 13 Henri Cartier Bresson said of Griffiths Not since Goya has anyone portrayed war like Philip Jones Griffiths 9 The South Vietnamese president Nguyễn Văn Thiệu criticised Griffiths work remarking Let me tell you there are many people I don t want back in my country but I can assure you Mr Griffiths name is at the top of the list 3 In 1973 Griffiths covered the Yom Kippur War He then worked in Cambodia from 1973 to 1975 In 1980 he became the president of Magnum a position he held for five years In 2001 Vietnam Inc was reprinted with a foreword by Noam Chomsky Subsequent books have included Dark Odyssey a collection of his best pictures and Agent Orange dealing with the impact of the US defoliant Agent Orange on postwar generations in Vietnam Philip Jones Griffiths Foundation for the Study of War EditAfter becoming aware of his terminal condition in 2001 Jones Griffiths launched a Foundation to preserve his archives As trustees his two daughters helm the Foundation In 2015 the National Library of Wales in Aberystwyth acquired the entire Philip Jones Griffiths archive which includes approximately 150 000 slides and 30 000 prints 14 Books EditVietnam Inc ISBN 978 0 7148 4603 3 New York Collier Macmillan 1971 London Phaidon 2001 with a reprint in 2006 Dark Odyssey New York Aperture 1996 ISBN 978 0 89381 645 2 Agent Orange Collateral Damage in Vietnam London Trolley 2004 ISBN 978 1 904563 05 1 Vietnam at Peace London Trolley 2005 ISBN 978 1 904563 38 9 Recollections London Trolley 2008 ISBN 978 1 904563 70 9 References Edit Jones Griffiths Philip 1996 Dark Odyssey Aperture ISBN 978 0 89381 645 2 The introduction by Murray Sayle continues In the Welsh manner Philip uses the name of both his parents to distinguish himself from all the other Joneses and Griffithses of the neighbourhood Dictionary of National Biography a b Harrison Graham 3 May 2008 Philip Jones Griffiths Photo Histories the photographers history of photography Photo Histories Archived from the original on 31 March 2019 Retrieved 15 July 2008 a b Hopkinson Amanda 24 March 2008 Guardian Obituary The Guardian London Retrieved 20 February 2010 a b Brockway Anthony 1 June 2004 Philip Jones Griffiths an interview The Guardian London Archived from the original on 3 June 2008 Retrieved 15 July 2008 Winslow Donald R 19 March 2008 Philip Jones Griffiths Dies in London NPPA Archived from the original on 24 May 2008 Retrieved 14 July 2008 Kennedy Randy 20 March 2008 Philip Jones Griffiths photographer Dies at 72 The New York Times Retrieved 3 May 2008 a b War photographer Philip Jones Griffith dies at 72 Philippine Daily Inquirer Agence France Presse 19 March 2008 Archived from the original on 20 March 2008 Retrieved 15 July 2008 a b Franklin Stuart 19 March 2008 Philip Jones Griffiths 1936 2008 Magnum Photos Archived from the original on 24 March 2008 Pilger John A tribute to Philip Jones Griffiths who understood war amp peace amp people Archived 2 April 2008 at the Wayback Machine 26 March 2008 Accessed July 2008 Vietnam Inc Part I A Photo Journey Through the Villages Fields and Alleys of a Devastated Nation Democracy Now 23 January 2002 Vietnam Inc Part II A Photo Journey through the Villages Fields and Alleys of a Devastated Nation Democracy Now 24 January 2002 Griffiths Philip Jones 1971 Vietnam Inc New York Collier Macmillan ISBN 9780020804000 National Library of Wales home for Jones Griffiths archive BBC News External links Edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to Philip Jones Griffiths Official website Magnum Photos profile page for Jones Griffiths Interview with Philip Jones Griffiths Point and Shoot Magnum in Motion Blood Nails and Prayers Magnum in Motion 50 Years on the Frontlines Magnum Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Philip Jones Griffiths amp oldid 1176768620, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
