Alberto Korda facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Alberto Korda
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Alberto Korda (right) taking a picture of Che Guevara (centre), with Guevara having his arms linked to his wife Aleida March.
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Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez
September 14, 1928 Havana, Republic of Cuba
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| Died | May 25, 2001 (aged 72) Paris, France
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| Known for | Photographer of Guerrillero Heroico |
Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez, known as Alberto Korda (born September 14, 1928 – died May 25, 2001), was a famous Cuban photographer. He is best remembered for his iconic picture of the revolutionary leader Che Guevara, titled Guerrillero Heroico. This photo became a worldwide symbol of rebellion and change.
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Early Life and Photography Beginnings
Alberto Korda was born Alberto Díaz Gutiérrez in Havana, Cuba, on September 14, 1928. He first discovered photography by using his father's Kodak 35mm camera. Before becoming a professional photographer, Korda worked many different jobs.
He started his photography career by taking pictures at events like banquets, baptisms, and weddings. He would quickly develop the photos in his studio and then sell them as souvenirs. At first, the quality of his photos was not very good. They would often become blurry or turn yellow over time.
In 1953, Korda opened his first professional studio with another photographer, Luis Pierce. Here, Korda learned how to use the right chemicals to make his photos last longer. They took on various photography jobs, including fashion and advertisements.
Korda was especially interested in fashion photography. He became one of Cuba's top fashion photographers. He preferred to use natural light in his studio, believing that artificial light did not show reality well. Korda was a master of black-and-white photography, always looking for the perfect way to frame his shots. His studio became known for its unique and artistic style.
Photography During the Cuban Revolution
The Cuban Revolution completely changed Korda's career path. After the revolutionaries won in 1959, Korda became deeply involved in their cause. He started working for the new newspaper, Revolución, which gave photographers a lot of space to show their work.
Korda said that the revolution made him realize the importance of his work. He saw a little girl holding a piece of wood as a doll and understood that his photography could help show the need for a fairer world. He began photographing the leaders of the revolution, including Fidel Castro.
Korda became more than just an official photographer for Castro; he was a close companion. He traveled with Castro all over Cuba, overseas, and even to the Soviet Union. Korda took many famous pictures of Castro, including one of him visiting the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C., in 1959. He also photographed Castro returning to the Sierra Maestra mountains, where the revolution began.
On March 5, 1960, Korda took his most famous photo: Guerrillero Heroico of Che Guevara. This image quickly became a powerful symbol of revolution around the world. Korda never received money for this photo because Cuba did not recognize international copyright laws at the time.
However, in 2000, he sued a company for using Che's image to sell alcohol. Korda stated that he supported the use of the image to spread Che's message of social justice, but he was against using it to promote products like alcohol. He won the lawsuit and donated the money to Cuba's healthcare system. He also approved of a version of the image called "Che Jesus," used to encourage church attendance in the UK. Korda had originally given the photo for free to an Italian publisher named Giangiacomo Feltrinelli.
For 10 years, Korda was Fidel Castro's personal photographer. He captured many moments, from large demonstrations to sugar cane harvests and factory scenes. His work also includes pictures of Castro's rebels entering Havana after their victory. Other notable photos show Castro with Ernest Hemingway, or playing golf and fishing with Che Guevara.
Later Life and Legacy
From 1968 to 1978, Alberto Korda focused on underwater photography. His work gained international attention after a Japanese exhibition in 1978. He even made a brief appearance in the 1999 film Buena Vista Social Club.
Alberto Korda passed away from a heart attack in Paris in 2001 while attending an exhibition of his photographs. He is buried in the Colon Cemetery, Havana.
A documentary film about his life, called "Kordavision," was released in 2006. In 2016, the Leica camera Korda used to take his famous Che Guevara photo was sold at an online auction for 18,100 euros.
Notable Photos by Korda
- La Niña de la Muñeca de Palo (The Girl with the Wooden Doll) (1958)
- Entrada de Fidel a La Habana (Fidel's Entry into Havana) (1959)
- El Quijote de la farola (The Quixote of the Lamp Post) (1959)
- Fidel in Washington (1959)
- Guerrillero Heroico (Heroic Guerrilla) (1960)
- Miliciana (Female Militiaman) (1962)
Exhibitions of Korda's Work
Korda's photographs have been shown in many solo exhibitions around the world. These include shows in Helsinki, Finland (1962); Milan, Italy (1985); Havana, Cuba (1986); Chicago, USA (2000); and Seoul, Korea (2011).
His work has also been part of group exhibitions. These include shows at the Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes in Havana (1962); Expo’67 in Montreal (1967); and galleries in New York (1983), London (2000), and Florida (2002).
Awards and Recognition
Alberto Korda received several awards for his photography:
- He was given the Cuban "Palma de Plata" in 1959.
- He was named Best Photoreporter of the year by Revolución Journal from 1960 to 1963.
- He won the 5th International Award of Submarine Photography "Maurizio Sana" in Italy.
- He was awarded the National Culture Distinction by the Ministry of Culture, Cuba, in 1994.
Collections Featuring Korda's Work
Korda's photographs are held in important collections worldwide. These include:
- Casa de las Américas, Havana, Cuba
- Center for Cuban Studies, New York, NY, USA
- Centro Studi e Archivio della Comunicazione, Parma University, Italy
- Fototeca de Cuba, Havana, Cuba
- Galleria IF, Milan, Italy
- Galleria Il Diafragma Kodak, Milan, Italy
- Maison de la Culture de la Seine Saint-Denis, Paris, France
- Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Havana, Cuba
Images for kids
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Alberto Korda (right) taking a picture of Che Guevara (centre), with Guevara having his arms linked to his wife Aleida March.
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Alberto Korda: Che Guevara, Guerrillero Heroico, 5 March 1960.
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Korda's film roll from March 5, 1960, when he took his famous Guerrillero Heroico photo of Che Guevara. Philosophers Jean-Paul Sartre and Simone de Beauvoir are also pictured, along with Fidel Castro.
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In March 2010, an original proof of this 1960 Korda photo of Che Guevara fishing with Fidel Castro, sold at auction for £ 6,600.
See also
In Spanish: Alberto Korda para niños
