Don McCullin - One of the most important photographers of the 20th century

[rayfoxlee]

Here in the UK, the BBC ran 90 minute profile of this great war photographer last night. Surely one of the greatest photographers, in any genre, of all time? I cannot see why the likes of HCB get so much attention, but McCullin's war pictures really do capture the decisive moment and sear the eye with the raw imagery of man's savagery - yet his ability to compose his images under extreme conditions is nothing short of astounding.

An amazing talent. Your thoughts?

Ray

 

[Rangefinderfreak]

I agree, along with Eugene W. Smith and now Steve McCurry, he is the photographer with "Human Eye" takes the side of the subject, not the publisher...

 

[Waus]

agree-I'm also deeply impressed with his 'in Engeland' photographs...

 

[nobbylon]

I watched it myself and after hearing on the BBC news that a 14 yr old boy was shot for making a comment at a coffee shop in Syria found the images incredibly moving. Thankfully there are photographers like DM who show the world what it's really like in war zones.

 

[Rodchenko]

Breathtakingly involved war photography. He and Philip Jones-Griffith followed and developed Capa's lead. I have great admiration for the skill and art he put into his images in the most difficult of circumstances.

Oddly, I find much of his later work, particularly his still lifes, dull.

 

[AJS Lamb]

His war photography is always discussed but the work in 'Homecoming', a self-explanatory titled book, is worth looking at.

A great photographer.

 

[mfogiel]

Great photographer. HCB was more into form and less into the content, he was basically an artist with an eye for humanity, Mc Cullin is all about humanity, and less about art.

 

[Richard G]

I saw him interviewed on Parkinson. It was a stunning piece of television. The man is so humble and so impressive.

 

[j j]

Have to agree with Richard G's comment. That was a wonderful interview. Humble and impressive are the words that came to my mind, too.

McCullin seems to be moved deeply by the suffering that he recorded and saw. Some war photographers seem to revel in it and are excited by their images; it's all about them. Not McCullin.

The comparative mundanity of his more modern work is surely the point of it. One can have too much excitement in life.

 

[Snapper_uk]

I shall be catching that one on the Iplayer later.

His autobiography 'Unreasonable Behaviour' is a very good read.

 

[Photo_Smith]

Yes one of my favourite photographers and a very genuine guy to boot.

 

[furcafe]

McCullin's 1 of the greats, for sure, but that doesn't take away from Cartier-Bresson or any of his other predecessors.

 

[jsrockit]

I cannot see why the likes of HCB get so much attention, but McCullin's war pictures really do capture the decisive moment and sear the eye with the raw imagery of man's savagery - yet his ability to compose his images under extreme conditions is nothing short of astounding.

HCB has museums and galleries behind his work and he has more variety in his subject matter. He was also an early innovator of a certain style of photography (small camera, decisive moment) and was certianly thinking of himself as an artist (despite some things he's said). DM was just being born when HCB was making some of his most famous images. DM is more known as a war photographer or photo journalist. Different types of photographers with different audiences maybe.

 

[jsrockit]

Great photographer. HCB was more into form and less into the content, he was basically an artist with an eye for humanity, Mc Cullin is all about humanity, and less about art.

Yes, that makes sense.

 

[benji77]

Wow. Salute!

 

[Paul Jenkin]

This is a man, a true gentleman, who sees things that should never be seen and reports them in an incredibly honest, powerful and yet sensitive way. He's clearly saved many lives with his various interventions on the battlefield - whether it be troops or old ladies trying to get out of the way of bullets. He's been shot and yet no-one's seen fit to knight him.

Worse still, Thatcher and her junta refused him a pass to cover the Falklands conflict as he might photograph something that might be politically damaging for them. Talk about suppressing the truth.

Anyway, instead of honouring overpaid sportsmen, pointless celebrities and self-serving politicians, it's DM who should be receiving the plaudits for his services to truth and to world-class photography.

 

[gilpen123]

Great guy and exudes humility just watched this http://cpn.canon-europe.com/content/Don_McCullin.do

 

[StefanJozef]

This is a man, a true gentleman, who sees things that should never be seen and reports them in an incredibly honest, powerful and yet sensitive way. He's clearly saved many lives with his various interventions on the battlefield - whether it be troops or old ladies trying to get out of the way of bullets. He's been shot and yet no-one's seen fit to knight him.

Worse still, Thatcher and her junta refused him a pass to cover the Falklands conflict as he might photograph something that might be politically damaging for them. Talk about suppressing the truth.

Anyway, instead of honouring overpaid sportsmen, pointless celebrities and self-serving politicians, it's DM who should be receiving the plaudits for his services to truth and to world-class photography.

I completely agree with everything you say here Paul. I've always admired and loved his work. The way he was treated over the Falklands conflict was nothing short of disgraceful. It presaged what was to come later of course, with embedded journalists and photographers. Everything these days is stage managed. Stefan

 

[Sejanus.Aelianus]

I've never met the guy myself but my best friend at school babysat for him on a regular basis and said he was a pretty good egg. What's more, I thought that many of his pictures from the 'sixties and early seventies were really effective, although I'm not that moved by his later work.

On the other hand, descriptions such as the title of this thread strike me as excessive and just a little foolish.

 

[Flat Twin]

I live just twenty minutes away from Don McCullin in South West England.

I saw him in the street just two weeks ago with a bag of groceries. He walked past me, nodded and then got into his car. He's a big'ish, handsome chap, a bit bent with age now but he still has an alert look in his eye.

I wanted to say hello and tell him how much I admired him and what an effect his work had had on me, from the days when my Father used to get the Sunday Times Magazine delivered and I, as a seven year old, would marvel and be shocked by his images and comment.

I didn't know what to say to him and he started his engine and drove off. I've seen him in the street quite a few times and the same blankness has come over me.

Maybe next time I see him I'll just say hello and see how it goes...!

I saw last nights programme on the BBC, I thought it was amazing. It moved me a lot.

Regards,

Simon