Evan Vucci (/ˈvuːtʃi/; born June 15, 1977)[1] is an American photojournalist, who is the chief photographer for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C.. Vucci shoots and produces both still photography and video projects worldwide, as well as on various subjects including Washington, D.C.–based sports, the U.S. military, and U.S. politics.
Evan Vucci | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 15, 1977 Olney, Maryland, U.S. |
| Alma mater | Rochester Institute of Technology (BFA) |
| Occupation | Photojournalist |
| Years active | 2000–present |
| Awards | Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography (2021) |
He was part of the AP reporting team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography. In July 2024, he took photographs of an injured Donald Trump with his fist raised after his attempted assassination.
Early life and education
editVucci was born in Olney, Maryland, on June 15, 1977. His mother was a secretary and his father was a police officer.[2]
Vucci enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology in Rochester, New York, in 1995 on a path to commercial photography. Whilst there he attended a lecture given by photojournalist Michael Williamson. In the lecture, Williamson showed his work and spoke of his travels all around the world while on staff with The Washington Post. Vucci was struck by the photographs and life Williamson had lived and changed his major to focus on photojournalism. While still enrolled at Rochester Institute of Technology, Vucci photographed sports for Reuters.[2]
Vucci graduated from the Rochester Institute of Technology with a bachelor's degree in professional photographic illustration in 2000.[3][4][5]
Career
editAfter graduating from college, Vucci moved to Fayetteville, North Carolina, and took a 30-hour-a-week position at The Fayetteville Observer. After about three months, Vucci realized that life at a small-town paper was not for him. Vucci took a job in Sydney, Australia, to work for the International Olympic Committee as a photo manager during the 2000 Summer Olympics. While working in Sydney, Vucci met then Associated Press photographer Doug Mills, who would help him get his foot in the door at the Associated Press as a freelance photojournalist.[2]
In late 2003, Vucci accepted a position at the Associated Press. In 2008, Vucci made several visits to Forward Operating Base Marez in Mosul, Iraq, profiling soldiers and their stories. His primary focus was a Cavalry Scout Platoon from Killer Troop, 3rd Squadron, 3rd Armored Cavalry Regiment (3 ACR). He spent several weeks embedded with the platoon filming their patrols and lives spent at a Combat Outpost in Western Mosul. Many of those soldiers were wounded and three were killed.[6]
Notable images
editShoeing of George W. Bush
editOne of Vucci's most iconic shots came from Iraq while he was working for Associated Press. On Sunday, December 14, 2008, Vucci was at a joint press conference between United States President George W. Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Malik in Baghdad, capital city of Iraq. The joint press conference was to announce the signing of a status of forces agreement, which allowed the United States military to remain in Iraq. During the press conference, Iraqi journalist Muntadhar al-Zaidi threw his shoes at United States President George W. Bush.[2][7][8]
George Floyd protests
editIn 2020, Vucci covered the George Floyd protests for the Associated Press. Serving as the chief photographer for the Associated Press in Washington, D.C., he was part of the AP reporting team that won the 2021 Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography.[3]
Attempted assassination of Donald Trump in Pennsylvania
editOn July 13, 2024, Vucci photographed former President and Republican Party nominee Donald Trump being led off stage after surviving an assassination attempt, with Trump's fist raised in the air and blood on the right side of his face.[9][10][11] The image was shared widely on social media and used as a cover image for Time.[12][13][14][15]
References
edit- ^ Jones, Tom (July 15, 2024). "The story behind the powerful photo of Trump that could change the country". Poynter Institute. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 16, 2024.
- ^ a b c d Riffe, Noah. "Evan Vucci: An Unfinished Photo". Retrieved March 9, 2019.[dead link]
- ^ a b "Evan Vucci - 2021 Winner". Rochester Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Alumnus joins ever-growing list of RIT graduates to win Pulitzer Prize". Rochester Institute of Technology. Archived from the original on September 19, 2023. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "RIT Alumnus wins Pulitzer Prize for Breaking News Photography". Rochester First – Nexstar Media Inc. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
According to RIT, Vucci graduated with a bachelor's degree in professional photographic illustration in 2000.
- ^ "Associated Press News". Associated Press. Archived from the original on May 2, 2017. Retrieved July 11, 2018.
- ^ "Shoe-throwing journalist's trial postponed - Conflict in Iraq". NBC News. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved May 24, 2010.
- ^ "President Bush and Iraq Prime Minister Maliki Sign the Strategic Framework Agreement and Security Agreement". georgewbush-whitehouse.archives.gov. Archived from the original on March 5, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ "Secret Service rushes Trump offstage after popping noises heard at his Pennsylvania rally". NBC News. July 13, 2024. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ "Trump injured but 'fine' after attempted assassination at rally, shooter and one attendee are dead". AP News. July 13, 2024. Archived from the original on July 13, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ Sullivan, Helen (July 15, 2024). "'The job is all about anticipation': behind the lens of the defining photo of the Trump rally shooting". The Guardian. London. ISSN 0261-3077. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 15, 2024.
- ^ Loh, Matthew (July 14, 2024). "The man who photographed a bloodied and defiant Trump says he 'knew it was a moment in American history that had to be documented'". Business Insider. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ "Photo of bloodied Trump fist pumping immediately spotlighted by his allies". Politico. July 13, 2024. Archived from the original on July 17, 2024. Retrieved July 13, 2024.
- ^ Wallace-Wells, Benjamin (July 13, 2024). "The Attempt on Donald Trump's Life and an Image That Will Last". The New Yorker. ISSN 0028-792X. Archived from the original on July 14, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.
- ^ Cortellessa, Eric (July 13, 2024). "Eyewitness Accounts From the Trump Rally Shooting". TIME. Archived from the original on July 15, 2024. Retrieved July 14, 2024.