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In June 1950 a young Japanese photographer, Jun Miki, was working at the Tokyo office of “LIFE” magazine. He took some snap shots of LIFE staff photographer David Douglas Duncan with his Leica and a lens that he had borrowed from a friend. Duncan was at first not interested, laughing at what he thought was just a Japanese Sonnar copy and saying that the lighting conditions were too poor.
When Miki showed him 10x8 prints from the lens Duncan was most impressed with the low-light quality.
Miki also showed the prints to Horace Bristol. Bristol had been one of LIFE's first staff photographers back in 1937 but, frustrated by the magazine's photo editor, had resigned and gone to Fortune magazine and had his own photo agency opposite to LIFE's office. Bristol was equally impressed.
Miki arranged for himself, Duncan and Bristol to have a guided visit to Nikon’s Ohi Plant in Japan. They were able to inspect and compare the lenses of Leitz and Zeiss with the Nikkors and concluded that the Nikkors were actually better.
The Korean war broke out that month and Duncan went to the front with a brace of Leica IIIc’s equipped with 5cm f1.5 and 13.5cm f4 Nikkors. His acclaimed book “This is War” was first published in 1951 with photographs taken with this Leica/Nikkor combination. The book with its images is still regarded as a classic.
Fellow “LIFE” staff photographer Carl Mydans was also sent to cover the war and on Duncan’s recommendation visited Nikon in Japan. They modified their new Nikkor 8.5cm F2 and 13.5cm f3.5 lenses for Mydans’ Contax. He later changes his camera to a Nikon.
A series of their pictures were published in “LIFE” during 1950 winning “US Camera magazine Achievement Awards”.
Hank Walker also changed his camera to a Nikon M with Nikkors and during the severe winter in Korea they found that he Nikon cameras still worked well whilst other cameras froze up.
In the USA the cameras and lenses were scrutinised by experts and the “New York Times” carried articles praising the quality and consistency of the Nikon cameras and lenses.
LIFE would commission Nikon to produce a small batch of black painted Nikon S bodies for its photographers with enlarged winding knobs for use with gloves. They are very rare collectables.
Nippon Kogaku was officially praised for its contribution toward rebuilding of its country’s economy.
Duncan had a long and eminent photographic career well documented in his books and online. He had a long close photographic friendship with Picasso. He was inducted into the international Photography Hall of Fame in 2021. He lived to the age of 102.
Jun Miki is celebrated as one one of Japan's pioneers of photojournalism. His legacy is remembered in a yearly award at the Nikon Salon.
Horace Bristol is, perhaps, less well known but he too would be recognised as one of the greats of American photojournalism.
From Life magazine, dated May 24, 1937.
I was flipping through Life, looking for old booze ads, and found this piece of beauty. Figured I'd share.
BTW, I'd totally celebrate National Arrow Week if I had such lovely shirts to wear.
This exhibit, located in the the Harry S. Truman Presidential Library and Museum, focuses on life in America in 1952 and features covers and layouts from Life magazine concerning a wide range of social, political, and economic issues.
Unconditional Surrender. A sculpture by Seward Johnson. San Diego, California, USA. Based on Alfred Eisenstaedt's famous photograph taken in Times Square, New York, on V-J Day 1945
Hansel Mieth's Rhesus monkey (left) remade 40 years later at the Red Sea, Egypt. Using a human model.(Right).
Framed complete issue of LIFE Magazine issued on November 29, 1963. My girlfriend gave it to me for my birthday. Her sister has an antique store in western Nebraska and she framed it.