Robert Capa (1913

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Biography

Robert Capa was a Hungarian-American war photographer and photojournalist. He is considered by some to be the greatest combat and adventure photographer in history.

Timeline

The story of Robert Capa, told in moments.

1913 Birth

Born Endre Friedmann in Budapest. Jewish. Fled Hungary at 18 due to political repression. Moved to Berlin, then Paris. He invented the name "Robert Capa" because it sounded American.

Why invent an American-sounding name? What was it like fleeing Hungary at 18? Did Paris make you a photographer or just give you a stage?

1936 Event

Photographed the Spanish Civil War. His image "The Falling Soldier," showing a loyalist militiaman at the moment of death, became one of the most famous war photographs ever taken. Its authenticity is still debated.

Is 'The Falling Soldier' authentic? How close were you when you took it? Did the Spanish Civil War change what photography meant to you?

1944 Event

Landed with the first wave of troops at Omaha Beach on D-Day. His hands shook so badly that most of his photos were blurred. A darkroom assistant melted the negatives. Only 11 frames survived.

What was it like landing at Omaha Beach? Did your shaking hands make the blurred photos more honest? How did losing those negatives feel?

1947 Event

Co-founded Magnum Photos with Henri Cartier-Bresson, David Seymour, and George Rodger. The agency let photographers own their negatives. It changed photojournalism.

Why did photographers owning their negatives matter so much? What was the vision behind Magnum Photos? Did Cartier-Bresson and you agree on everything?

1954 Death

Stepped on a landmine in Thai Binh, Indochina, while covering the First Indochina War for Life magazine. He was 40. He'd once said: "If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Were you thinking of your own words about getting close enough? Is dying at 40 in the field the photographer's fate? What would you want your last frame to show?

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