The Story from APM

Shooting History

Tuesday, May 15 2007

SHOOTING HISTORY

Sonia Katchian

Photographer Sonia Katchian has great skill - and astounding luck. Among other memorable images, on this day in 1972 she was the only professional photographer to capture the assassination attempt on then-Presidential candidate George Wallace.

Sonia's professional luck continued: a chance meeting with Muhammad Ali landed her ringside at two famed boxing matches -  "The Rumble in the Jungle" and "The Thrilla in Manila."

Muhammad Ali, photo: Sonia Katchian

Sonia went on the photograph Muhammad Ali for 14 years.

Today on the program, Sonia Katchian shares the stories behind her most memorable images.

• See a picture of Sonia at work in 1975
• See Sonia's folio featuring Muhammad Ali
• Check out Sonia's pictures of George Wallace

ONE AFRICAN LIBRARY

Laura Wendell and Agbessi Gblokpor, click for a larger image

When Laura Wendell took a Peace Corps position in Togo, Africa, she expected to help a village called Yikpa with freshwater fisheries. She soon found that the villagers of Yikpa didn't want help with their fish ponds. Instead, Laura embarked on a project that would perhaps make a more profound impact - building a library. The village response was overwhelming.

In the first month that it was open we had enough books signed out for two for every person - every man, woman and child in the village.  It was unbelievable…Nothing had prepared me for how excited people were.
 - Laura Wendell

Agbessi Gblokpor lived in Yikpa at the time and was 12 years old when the library opened.  He says that the books in the library and a contest Laura organized changed his life. Dick talks to Laura and Agbessi about the power of books and their friendship.

• Learn more about the World Library Partnership
• See Laura's latest project