Philip Jones Griffiths, from Magnum

March 22, 2008

"The ability to keep things in perspective is very important for a journalist. In a tense situation you need the ability to be there, yet somehow step aside; to keep a cool head and keep working without getting frustrated." -Philip Jones Griffiths

"Not since Goya has anyone portrayed war like Philip Jones Griffiths" - Henri Cartier-Bresson

Some photographers report stories, some report history. Few of them make history with their work. Philip Jones Griffiths was one of them. A photographer that elevated the job of photojournalism to the point of affecting events, not just reporting them. Recently, Philip Jones Griffiths passed away, and I wanted to post something in his memory.

At Magnum's blog there is a beautiful essay by Stuart Franklin remembering Philip Jones Griffiths, who was with Magnum since 1966. Of all his extraordinary work in photojournalism, the period that defined most his career was the War of Vietnam, where he created a very large body of photography, some of which was published in several books that are one of the most important visual references of that war: Vietnam Inc, [images]; Agent Orange [images]; Viet Nam at Peace [images].

Agent Orange, a book reporting the consequences of the use of this lethal agent, is a report to never forget, a book that had significant impact at the time. One of the best pieces of photojournalism ever done.

A retrospective book of his work, Dark Odyssey [images], covers his forty-years in photojournalism from his native Wales to the villages of Vietnam, Europe, Africa, and Asia in more than one hundred black-and-white photographs.

At the Musarium website you can find a very interesting interview with Philip Jones Griffiths (video clips) where he narrates the purpose of the book "Vietnam Inc" as well as other topics related with photography. At photohistories there is another great interview with the photographer and at his website you will find extensive information on his work.

"The first picture of his [Henri Cartier-Bresson] I ever saw was during a lecture at the Rhyl camera club. I was 16 and the speaker was Emrys Jones. He projected the picture upside down. Deliberately, to disregard the subject matter to reveal the composition. It's a lesson I've never forgotten." -Philip Jones Griffiths

Philip Jones Griffiths crafted a large body of work where composition played a key role in the visual aesthetics of his photography. This wonderful image above is an example of exquisite composition. A perfect arrangement of the subjects in the foreground with large lines driving the viewer towards the end of the street, thus providing situational context while revealing the energy of the moment.

[In memory of the late Philip Jones Griffiths, with respect. MGG]

Miguel Garcia-Guzman

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