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Artist: Alberto Korda (Cuban, 1928-2001)
Born in Havana Cuba, Alberto Korda is a photographer best known for his famous photo of Fidel Castro and Camilo Cienfuegos. Korda had many odd jobs before working as a photography assistant, shooting weddings, baptisms, and banquets. In 1953 Korda opened his first photography studio with another artist, they took jobs ranging from fashion to advirtisment. Korda became a master of black and white photography, he loved working with models and became Cubas premiere fashion photographer. The cuban revalutoin was the turning point in Kordas career, In 1959 the newly established newspaper offered the largest space for photographers to display their photographs, and Korda became part of the revolutionary cause. After taking a photo of a little girl clutching a piece of wood as a doll Korda said, "I came to understand that it was worth dedicating my work to a revolution which aimed to remove these inequalities." Korda followed Fidel Castro around Cuba and other countries, documenting as he went. Korda was a photographer for the Cuban newspaper Revolución when he produced on March 5, 1960, the iconic image of Che Guevara that became a worldwide symbol of revolution and rebellion. After the revolution, Korda became Fidel Castro's personal photographer for 10 years, accompanying Castro on trips and in meetings with foreign personalities. During this time he also took pictures of demonstrations, sugar cane harvests and factory scenes. Korda suffered a fatal heart attack in Paris in 2001 while presenting an exhibition of his work.