Andy Lopez
-
Andy Lopez (1910–1986) was a Spanish-born American photojournalist and war correspondent. He joined Acme Newspix in 1942 and began covering major events of World War II across Europe and the Pacific, including the D-Day invasion, the Battle of the Bulge, the liberation of Paris, and the Japanese surrender. His assignments continued under United Press International (UPI), where he remained active until his retirement in 1983.
In 1946, Lopez documented the Operation Crossroads atomic bomb tests at Bikini Atoll, capturing scenes that became part of the visual record of the early nuclear age. He received several prestigious honors during his career, including the Medal of Freedom in 1947 for his actions during WWII and the Pulitzer Prize for Photography in 1959. The Pulitzer was awarded for his powerful image of a kneeling man clutching a crucifix during the Cuban Revolution.
Born in Spain in 1910, Lopez immigrated to the United States at age four and became a naturalized citizen in 1937. He spent much of his professional life working with UPI and passed away in Florida in 1986 at the age of 76.