World Press Photo Exhibition 1974 in Amsterdam.

Opening of the World Press Photo Exhibition 1974. The Van Gogh Museum, Amsterdam, Netherlands, March 29th, 1974.

This newsreel features the prize awarding ceremony of the World Press Photo 1973 contest.

Here Prince Bernhard of the Netherlands presents the “Golden Eye“, for World Press Photo of the Year 1973, to Dane N. Bath, picture editor of The New York Times and Time Life representant, for the last photo of President Salvador Allende of Chile, made by a then an Anonymous photographer, because Chilean Presidential Photographer (1964-1973) and Chilean Air Force NCO (R) Leopoldo Victor Vargas was unable to disclose his authorship due to safety reasons.

The grand prize winner picture was unanimously chosen from among 3.532 photos, of 603 participating photographers, from 38 countries. The winners were announced on March 27, 1974, see The New York Times, Thursday, March 28, 1974, p. 8.

Credits: Uploaded on May 4th 2009 by Nederlands Instituut voo Beeld en Geluid.  

THE TWELFTH COMMEMORATION OF LEOPOLDO VICTOR VARGAS (3/26/2023).

On the day of his memorial, visiting Leopoldo Vargas tomb, is his widow Erika Caroca Atenas, his daughter Erika Maria Vargas, and one of his grandsons, Miguel Salgueiro Vargas.

Twelve years ago, on the afternoon of Saturday 26th, 2011, Presidential Photographer and Chilean Air Force NCO (R) Leopoldo Víctor Vargas passed away in Santiago de Chile, at age 78.

As Presidential Photographer (between 1964-1973) at the Chilean seat of government, La Moneda Palace, he made the picture winner of the World Press Photo of the Year 1973. Leo Vargas also made the Presidential Official Portrait of late President Salvador Allende, at the very beginning of his presidency in 1970. Therefore, he is the author of the two most important pictures of Allende’s government.

And, after the 1973 Coup d’état, at the Diego Portales building, he shot the first official portrait of each one of the four members of the Military Junta– Army Gen. Augusto Pinochet, Admiral José Toribio Merino, Aviation Gen. Gustavo Leigh, and Carabineros Gen. César Mendoza.

One of his pictures is considered one of the 100 most influential images of all time, and counted among the photos that changed the world. Also, it’s acknowledged as a universal icon of photography.

But above of all of his life achievements, he was a humble God-fearing man, a dear husband, father, and grandfather.  Today we commemorate his death.

His widow, and family members, with deep love and respect, look forward to seeing him again on the fast-approaching day of resurrection. We all missed him very much. Agape.

#TodayInHistory: the #NYT announces de winner of the #WPPh 1973.

In a day like today, 42 years ago, was announced in #TheNewYorkTimes that an unidentified Chilean photographer won the grand prize of photojournalism; the World Press Photo of the Year 1973, awarded by the #WorldPressPhotoFoundation, in the Netherlands.
The author of that picture was presidential photographer and Chilean Air Force NCO Leopoldo Víctor Vargas (1933-2011).

Leopoldo V. Vargas past away five years ago- the afternoon of Saturday 26, 2011. This weekend, his family, with lots of love and respect celebrates his fifth anniversary. Here is our homage.

Windows Scan 300 dpi

#TodayInHistory TIME Magazine publishes a pix of Leopoldo V. Vargas shot in 9/11/1973.

Feb 4 1974 TIME

#ADayLikeToday 42 years ago, the fourth picture of six captured by Chilean presidential photographer Leopoldo Víctor Vargas made it’s debut in the world press.  Shot the morning of Tuesday September 11th 1973 at La Moneda Palace, seat of the Chilean Government, during the Coup d’état.

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Pres. Salvador Allende’s Official Portrait.

Since September 16th, 2015, the Chilean National Library (Biblioteca Nacional de Chile) is the custodian of the Official Portrait of Chilean President Salvador Allende (1970-1973), captured at La Moneda Palace of government, the same day that Allende took office, on November 3rd,1970. Photo by presidential photographer Leopoldo Víctor Vargas (1933-2011).

Presidente Salvador Allende en Memoria Chilena

The photo, virtually disappeared since 1974, was donated to the Chilean National Library by Leopoldo Víctor Vargas’ widow, Erika Caroca Atenas, and their firstborn, Leopoldo P. Vargas (also a professional photographer), on behalf of Leopoldo Vargas and his family.

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World Press Photo of the Year 1973. *

Last Monday 26th, January 2015, was the 41st anniversary of the publication, in the American newspaper The New York Times, of the picture of the only Chilean photographer winner of the prestigious prize World Press Photo of the Year 1973, awarded by the World Press Photo Foundation in the Netherlands. It is the world’s most important prize in Photojournalism.   The image shows one of the last photos of Chilean President Dr. Salvador Guillermo Allende Gossens alive, wearing a helmet and rifle on his shoulder, inside the Chilean Palace of Government, La Moneda, the day of the Coup d’état, on September 11, 1973. It was taken that fateful morning at about 09:40 a.m. by Leopoldo Víctor Vargas– presidential photographer and non-commission officer (NCO) of the Chilean Air Force. [1] Since it’s publication in The New York Times this picture has become a truly world photo icon.

World Press Photo 1973 (Spanish)

The World Press Photo of the Year 1973  depicts Chilean President, Dr. Salvador Allende, during his tour of inspection through La Moneda Palace of government, looking for the best positions for its defense, while the Coup is in progress. Allende is flanked by two members of his personal guard, known by the acronym GAP, which in Spanish stands for “Group of Personal Friends” of the President. On Allende’s far right is Héctor Daniel Urrutia Molina (a.k.a. Miguel) and to the far left side is, the tallest one, squinting, Luis Fernando Rodríguez Riquelme (a.k.a. Mauricio). Right behind the President is José Muñoz, Captain of the Carabineros Presidential Guard, and Allende’s friend Dr.Danilo Bartulín Fovich.

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