Dirck Halstead, award-winning photojournalist, freelance photographer, digital journalism pioneer and university instructor, had his first story published in Life magazine at only 17 years of age. Halstead's coverage of the Guatemalan revolution of 1954 marked the beginning of a career that would find him covering major world events throughout the late twentieth century, including the fall of Saigon towards the end of U. S. involvement in the Vietnam War, President Richard Nixon's trip to China, and the assassination attempt on President Ronald Reagan. In 1976, the Overseas Press Club awarded him the Robert Capa Gold Medal for his coverage of the Vietnam War, and in 2003, he received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the White House News Photographers Association.
After a stint as roaming photographer for the Department of the Army [ca. 1954-56], Halstead went to work with Black Star for a brief period before joining the staff at United Press International (UPI) in 1956. During this period he relocated several times, and was based at UPI bureaus in Dallas, Philadelphia, and Washington DC. In 1965, he opened the first UPI picture bureau in Saigon to facilitate coverage of the Vietnam War. He left UPI in 1971, and began working for Time Magazine in 1972.
Halstead worked for Time Magazine from 1972-2001. During his tenure at Time, he covered the Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush (George H. W.), and Clinton administrations, and was appointed Senior White House Photographer. He shot 54 of their covers between 1972 and 2001, distinguishing himself as the photographer with the most Time covers to his name. In addition, he became a much sought after freelance photographer for major motion picture companies and corporations.
In the late 1990s, Halstead began exploring the role of digital media (moving and still images) in capturing news stories for electronic publication. He launched The Digital Journalist in 1997, providing photojournalists with a forum for discussing and exhibiting their work. He also teaches Platypus workshops, where photojournalists and others learn the skills necessary to create their own documentary videos. Halstead is currently a fellow at the Center for American History.
From the guide to the Dirck Halstead Photographic Archive AR 2002-221, 2003-006, 2008-180., 1955-2001, (Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin)
