Cornell Capa, Photographer, Is Dead at 90

Cornell Capa in 1980. Photo by Bill Jay (used with permission)

By Philip Gefter, The New York Times

Cornell Capa, who founded the International Center of Photography in New York after a long and distinguished career as a photojournalist, first on the staff of LIFE magazine and then as a member of Magnum Photos, died Friday at his home in Manhattan. He was 90.

His death, of natural causes, was announced by Phyllis Levine, communications director at the International Center of Photography in Manhattan.

In Mr. Capa’s nearly 30 years as a photojournalist, the professional code to which he steadfastly adhered is best summed up by the title of his 1968 book The Concerned Photographer. He used the phrase often to describe any photographer who was passionately dedicated to doing work that contributed to the understanding and well-being of humanity and who produced "images in which genuine human feeling predominates over commercial cynicism or disinterested formalism"...

READ ON at nytimes.com

Link to the Associated Press obituary

Link to the ICP tribute

Legendary photojournalist Robert Capa by his brother, Cornell Capa. Photo credit: Magnum Photos
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Mike

Comments

[yz]

Just to remember his original name, he was called 'Kornél Friedmann' when he was born in Hungary.

[Ctein]

Dear yz,

Speaking as someone who has no particular interest in preserving his 'original name' (and it's my name, so I should get to decide, doncha think?), so far as I'm concerned he is and always will be Cornell Capa because his name is his to choose.

pax / Ctein

[Mike Johnston]

yz and Ctein,
What I find interesting about C. Capa's name change is that he adopted his BROTHER'S name-of-choice. André Friedmann became Robert Capa (as I understand it the name "Capa" was at first a working pseudonym, chosen by R. Capa and Gerda Taro--who also changed her birth name, from Gerda Pohorylle, at the same time) before Kornél Friedmann became Cornell Capa. I don't know the story, but I'd like to. I wonder if C.C. ever wrote about it or talked about it in an interview?

Mike J.

[dyathink]

In "Capa: Cara a Cara" Published in Spanish and English versions by Aperture, it is noted that Andre Friedmann was unable to realize his dream of studying journalism at the University in Hungary because of the pro-fascist/anti-Jew government in power at the time. He left Hungary for Berlin in 1931 at the age of 17 to pursue his studies but was forced to leave school when his parents were no longer able to send him money. He went to work in the Dephot photography agency and so began his career in photojournalism. When Hitler assumed power Andre fled to Paris and for two years encountered enormous difficulties getting work.

Andre fell in love with Gerta who was a German refugee and had been jailed in Germany for her political beliefs. She believed in Andre's talent and became his promotor. It was Gerta's idea to sell Andre's photos under the assumed name of Robert Capa, an imaginary American who, as the story went, had achieved great fame for his work in America. The idea was a success until the ruse was revealed and Andre had no choice but to become Robert Capa. Gerta then changed her name to Gerta Taro, inspired by Taro Okamoto a Japanese sculptor who was a friend of theirs in Paris. It would follow that Cornell who was Andre's younger brother would also assume the name Capa.