I’m currently studying the photos of Robert Capa, and this is what amazes me about his work: he documented history, with beautiful artistry and composition.
I see Robert Capa as an artist who had a thirst for adventure. He used the camera as his art tool, and did a huge service to humanity by co-founding Magnum Photos, by documenting the horrors and ills of war, while making the photos beautiful through his artful compositions, and the intimacy and soul he shared with his subjects.
Some of my favorite photos by Robert Capa:
Vietnam:
![NYC35448 INDOCHINA. May 25, 1954. Vietnamese troops advancing between Namdinh and Thaibinh. This is one of the last pictures taken by Robert Capa with his Nikon camera before he stepped on a landmine and died at 14.55.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/NYC35448.jpg?w=252&h=171&ssl=1)
INDOCHINA. May 25, 1954. Vietnamese troops advancing between Namdinh and Thaibinh. This is one of the last pictures taken by Robert Capa with his Nikon camera before he stepped on a landmine and died at 14.55.
![CAR1954007W00005/ICP889 INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Along the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. Vietnamese Soldiers advancing in a rice field. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a "Democratic Republic" in the North, under communst rule, and the "State of Vietnam" in the South, under French rule.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/par132387-overlay.jpg?w=252&h=180&ssl=1)
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Along the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. Vietnamese Soldiers advancing in a rice field. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
![CAR1954007W00002/ICP882 INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). On the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. A French military convoy. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a "Democratic Republic" in the North, under communst rule, and the "State of Vietnam" in the South, under French rule.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/par132377-overlay-1.jpg?w=238&h=163&ssl=1)
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). On the road from Namdinh to Thaibinh. May 25th, 1954. A French military convoy. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
![CAR1954007W00002/ICP881 INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Namdinh. May 21st, 1954. Military cemetery. French and Vietnamese, killed during the battle, lie next to eachother. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a "Democratic Republic" in the North, under communst rule, and the "State of Vietnam" in the South, under French rule.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/par132376-overlay.jpg?w=95&h=140&ssl=1)
INDOCHINA. First Indo-Chinese War (1946-1954). Namdinh. May 21st, 1954. Military cemetery. French and Vietnamese, killed during the battle, lie next to eachother. After World War II France reinstalled its colonial government in Indochina (after the Japanese invasion during the war). In 1946 a Vietnamese independence movement, led by communist Ho Chi Minh, started to fight against French troops to gain control of northern Vietnam. On May 7th, 1954, the French were defeated at Dien Bien Phu. The armistice, signed in Geneva, divided Vietnam into a “Democratic Republic” in the North, under communst rule, and the “State of Vietnam” in the South, under French rule.
Spanish Civil War:
![PAR75205 SPAIN. Madrid. Winter 1936-1937. After an Italo-German air raid. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75205.jpg?w=324&h=229&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Madrid. Winter 1936-1937. After an Italo-German air raid. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government.
![PAR75226 SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75226.jpg?w=197&h=142&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
![PAR76171 SPAIN. Barcelona. Each banner spells out the name of fallen Brigadiers and their country of birth. The International Brigades are made to leave Spain by the Jallander Commission, which ordered the departure of all foreign troops fighting alongside the Republicans and Franquists. Nevertheless the Germans and Italians continue to send over men and war supplies to Franco. The capital of Catalonia pays tribute to the International Brigades. During the ceremony, Dolorès IBARRURI, leader of the Spanish Communist Party, addresses the survivors of the International Brigades with her well-known "You are history! You are legend! [....] The blood spilt on our soil will not be sterile, it will be bear its fruit. October 28th, 1938.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR76171.jpg?w=197&h=149&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Barcelona. Each banner spells out the name of fallen Brigadiers and their country of birth. The International Brigades are made to leave Spain by the Jallander Commission, which ordered the departure of all foreign troops fighting alongside the Republicans and Franquists. Nevertheless the Germans and Italians continue to send over men and war supplies to Franco. The capital of Catalonia pays tribute to the International Brigades. During the ceremony, Dolorès IBARRURI, leader of the Spanish Communist Party, addresses the survivors of the International Brigades with her well-known “You are history! You are legend! [….] The blood spilt on our soil will not be sterile, it will be bear its fruit. October 28th, 1938.
![PAR75223 SPAIN. Madrid. November-December 1936. After the Italo-German air raids. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75223.jpg?w=197&h=144&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December 1936. After the Italo-German air raids. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
![CAR1938011W000X1/ICP258 SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) ICP 258 Near Fraga. The Aragon front. November 7th, 1938. A field headquarter during the Loyalist offensive along the Rio Segre. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco's victory over the Republicans.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR115600.jpg?w=180&h=135&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936-9) ICP 258 Near Fraga. The Aragon front. November 7th, 1938. A field headquarter during the Loyalist offensive along the Rio Segre. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco’s victory over the Republicans.
![PAR75224 SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75224.jpg?w=180&h=135&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Madrid. November-December, 1936. During the Italo-German air raids, many people took shelter in the subway stations. The Nationalist offensive on Madrid, which lasted from November 1936 to February 1937, was one of the fiercest of the Civil War. During this period Italy and Germany started helping the Nationalist forces, and the USSR the Popular Front government. The civilians were severely affected by the bombings.
![BOB1937039W000X1-ICP237 SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936/9) ICP 237. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. January 3rd, 1938. Republican soldiers inside the Governor's Palace, the last bastion of the Fascist resistance. Earlier that day the Republicans had detonated mines powerful enough to blow away an entire wall. Aragon. Teruel. Décembre 1937. Offensive républicaine pour reprendre la ville aux franquistes. La prise de l'aqueduc "Los Arcos". The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco's victory over the Republicans.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75171.jpg?w=169&h=115&ssl=1)
SPAIN. Spanish Civil War (1936/9) ICP 237. Aragon front. Battle of Teruel. January 3rd, 1938. Republican soldiers inside the Governor’s Palace, the last bastion of the Fascist resistance. Earlier that day the Republicans had detonated mines powerful enough to blow away an entire wall. Aragon. Teruel. Décembre 1937. Offensive républicaine pour reprendre la ville aux franquistes. La prise de l’aqueduc “Los Arcos”. The Spanish Civil War broke out in 1936, when part of the Spanish army rebelled against the Second Republic, a democratic government elected in 1931. It gained international dimensions when Fascist Germany and Italy began supporting the military uprising, led by General Franco, with weapons and soldiers. The USSR helped the Republic, and a significant contingent of volunteers joined the International Brigades and fought for the Republic. The conflict became the symbol of a larger conflict between Fascists and Communists. The war ended in 1939 with Franco’s victory over the Republicans.
![PAR75107 FRANCE. March 1939. Between Argeles-sur-Mer and Le Bercares. Exiled Republican soldiers and civilians, who crossed the border after Franco's victory, being transferred from one refuge camp to another. A French Gendarme heads the column of refugees. France had set up eight camps along the border in the Pyrénées Orientales region.](https://i0.wp.com/erickimphotography.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/PAR75107.jpg?w=162&h=112&ssl=1)
FRANCE. March 1939. Between Argeles-sur-Mer and Le Bercares. Exiled Republican soldiers and civilians, who crossed the border after Franco’s victory, being transferred from one refuge camp to another. A French Gendarme heads the column of refugees. France had set up eight camps along the border in the Pyrénées Orientales region.
To find more inspiration, I encourage you to study the early Magnum photographers, whose heritage was photojournalism, and the photo essay.
My favorite photographers to study: