Philip Jones Griffiths was born in Rhuddlan, Wales in 1936. While studying pharmacy in Liverpool he became a part-time photographer for The Manchester Guardian, and later joined The Observer newspaper. He covered the Algerian war in 1962, and since then has covered most of the major conflicts throughout the world.

His epic book, Vietnam, Inc. published in 1971 is recognised as pivotal in changing US attitudes to the war. Agent Orange - Collateral Damage in Viet Nam, is in some ways, his epilogue to that great work. His returning to Viet Nam to document the effects of Agent Orange on the people, reflects not only his commitment to a valid, if cataclysmic, explanation of war, but also to the people of Viet Nam. He lives in New York.