“What I did was to give war a face. We are left with photography even more powerful today than when it captured the fractured moments of chaos. Now its history”.
– Catherine Leroy
Overview
The next podcast is out Monday 15 January 2024. The guest is award winning author Mary Cronk Farrell. On this episode we discuss her book about the life of Catherine Leroy a French photographer who travelled to Vietnam at the height of the war where she made a name for herself in a male dominated environment. Born on May 27, 1945, in Paris, Leroy began her career in photography at a young age when she travelled to Vietnam in 1966 to document the conflict.
One of Leroy’s distinguishing features was her fearlessness and determination to capture the realities of war up close. In a male-dominated field, she defied societal expectations and embedded herself with military units, including marines and soldiers, navigating dense jungles, wading through rice paddies, and parachuting into combat zones. Despite facing scepticism and being told that she didn’t belong in such environments, Leroy persisted, earning the respect of the soldiers she accompanied.
Leroy’s experiences were not without peril. She shared the dangers faced by the soldiers she documented, resulting in her being wounded and captured by the North Vietnamese Army (NVA) during the battle for Hue in the Tet offensive. Despite these challenges, she continued to produce powerful, award winning photographs that captured the human face of war. Her work was widely published in prominent American newspapers and magazines, forcing the American public to confront the harsh realities and human cost of the Vietnam War. Leroy’s images went beyond mere documentation; they conveyed the raw emotions and experiences of those involved in the conflict.
Catherine Leroy’s remarkable contributions to photojournalism and her courage in covering war zones have left an indelible mark on the field. She continued her career as a photographer and journalist, covering conflicts in various parts of the world. Leroy passed away on July 8, 2006, but her legacy endures through her powerful and evocative body of work, reminding us of the impact of war on humanity.
Discussion
“… a tiny fly, a mosquito like person. She has this dogged perseverance. She was always popping up with a picture”.
– Tim Page
On the pod we discuss:
- Mary’s career as an author.
- The development of war photography from WW2 via Vietnam to the present day.
- Catherine’s early life.
- Her journey to Vietnam.
- Her time in the jungle taking photographs of soldiers and marines in contact with the enemy.
- Her award winning photos and the sexism she faced from rival photographers.
- Her post Vietnam life and her legacy.
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