Don McCullin is probably one of the most influential people in the world of photo journalism and war photography. Having worked for The Sunday Times and The Observer, McCullin has photographed war zones throughout the world including Cyprus, Vietnam, Biafra, Northern Ireland and Lebanon. His ability to capture distress and suffering in a way which reaches out to the viewer is incredible, he manages to make you feel emotions you thought you could never feel about a photograph filled with people you've never met before, in situations you may never be in.
Don McCullin, speaking in an interview for his latest exhibition, Shaped By War.
A shell shocked soldier in Hue, Vietnam in 1968.
His photographs were exhibited in The Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, in 2010. I took the opportunity to go and see the exhibition, having only seen a select few images of McCullin's before, and from the first to the last image I was completely stunned. As well as a vast array of photographs taken in various war zones, the exhibition also displayed some of his cameras, contact prints, travel documents, letters from the newspapers he had worked for, the camera which saved him from being hit by a bullet, and the image pictured above with post-it notes stuck to various parts of the photograph telling him which areas needed to be burnt or dodged, as well as any other details which needed editing in the dark room which was amazing to see. It was set up in a sort of time-line, with his earliest work first and leading to his work from the present day, which is mostly of landscapes taken Somerset where he now lives.
The exhibition is running in the Imperial War Museum in London from October 7th 2011 - January 30th 2012 and I would highly recommend it to anyone, whether you are interested in photography or not. These are truly thought provoking images which should definitely not be missed.
"There is no doubt that my photographs have a very strong religious overtone, they are like twentieth century icons. When human beings are suffering, they tend to look up, as if hoping for salvation. And that’s when I press the button."- Don McCullin
The exhibition is running in the Imperial War Museum in London from October 7th 2011 - January 30th 2012 and I would highly recommend it to anyone, whether you are interested in photography or not. These are truly thought provoking images which should definitely not be missed.
"There is no doubt that my photographs have a very strong religious overtone, they are like twentieth century icons. When human beings are suffering, they tend to look up, as if hoping for salvation. And that’s when I press the button."- Don McCullin
Don McCullin being interviewed by Paul Herrmann, director of Manchester's Redeye gallery at McCullin's latest exhibition, Shaped By War at The Imperial War Museum, Manchester.
This image is particularly beautiful, you can see where he has dodged around the silhouette of the man in to make him stand out a little more, giving him a kind of halo effect. I've tried this technique myself in the dark room and it is quite challenging to get right! This is excellent.
You can purchase Don McCullin's books here - Shaped By War is an exceptional book full of life changing photographs and is definitely worth £15. His books are also on sale at his exhibition, as well as in many bookshops including Waterstones.
Great post. I've been a fan of McCullin's work for a few years now and got the chance to see his exhibition in Bath just before Christmas, it was incredible. I'm currently doing a research project on his work for a course on my history degree, about Don's photos and the impact they had on the 60s, so you're post here has helped! Thanks, keep up the good work.
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