Don McCullin is a famous British photojournalist born October 9, 1935 in Finsbury Park, London. He is known for his striking and moving work in conflict zones around the world.
Childhood, youth and personal life
Don McCullin was born in St Pancras, London and grew up in Finsbury Park. During the Blitz he was evacuated to a farm in Somerset County. He suffers from mild dyslexia, but he showed a talent for drawing in the high school he attended. He won a scholarship to Hammersmith School of Arts and Crafts, but following his father's death he left school at the age of 15, without qualifications, to work in catering on the roads of iron. Then he was called up for national service in the Royal Air Force (RAF) in 1953.
He has been married three times. His first marriage was to Christine, with whom he had two children. However, their marriage ended in divorce. Later, he married photographer Joy McCullin photographer, with whom he had a daughter before separating.
He also went through difficult times on a personal level. His work in difficult areas had a profound impact on his mental health. He faced considerable trauma and emotional pain. Despite this, he managed to overcome many obstacles and continue to pursue his passion for photography.
The photojournalist
During his national service he was assigned to the Suez Canal during the Suez Crisis in 1956, where he worked as a photographer's assistant. Although he failed to become a photographer in the RAF, he bought his first camera, a Rolleicord, while stationed in Nairobi. In 1958, his career took a turning point when he photographed a local London gang in a bomb-shattered building. The publication of this photo in The Observer propelled him onto the photojournalism scene.
Between 1966 and 1984, McCullin worked as a foreign correspondent for The Sunday Times Magazine, covering wars and natural disasters around the world. His hard-hitting reporting on the Vietnam War and the conflict in Northern Ireland has been particularly acclaimed. He also took the famous photographs of the Beatles during the session called "The Mad Day Out" in 1968.
Despite his reputation as a war photographer, he also turned to photographing landscapes, still lifes and commissioned portraits. He continues to capture powerful images and document subjects that reflect the realities of the world we live in.
He has produced numerous major reports documenting conflict zones and humanitarian crises around the world. Here are some of his iconic stories:
Vietnam War: His photographs of combat, soldiers, civilians and the brutal reality of the conflict captured the horror and devastating impact of war on the Vietnamese people.
Biafra Civil War: He documented the event (1967-1970) in Nigeria, showing the suffering of civilians and the devastating famine that affected the region. His images have helped draw international attention to this humanitarian crisis.
Conflict in Northern Ireland: He vividly photographed the conflict in Northern Ireland, including urban violence, barricades and British soldiers deployed in the streets.
Lebanon War: He traveled to Lebanon during the events that ravaged the country in the 1970s and 1980s. His photographs depict the destruction, refugees and human consequences of this deadly conflict.
Africa: He has produced numerous reports in Africa, covering subjects such as famine, poverty and the consequences of armed conflicts on the population.
The main works of Don McCullin
"Shell-shocked US Marine, the Battle of Huế": This photograph taken in Vietnam in 1968 shows a young US Marine, haggard and visibly traumatized after intense combat.
'The Homeless Irishman, Spitalfields': This image captured in London in 1970 depicts a homeless Irish man, his face marked with poverty and distress.
'Starving Child and Vulture': Taken in Sudan in 1993, this photo received great international attention. We see an emaciated child, on the verge of death, observed by a vulture waiting nearby.
'The Berlin Wall': This photograph, taken in 1961, shows an East German soldier holding a gun near the newly constructed Berlin Wall.
'Northern Ireland, Londonderry': This image taken in 1971 from the streets of Londonderry (also called Derry) shows a young Catholic boy throwing a rock at British soldiers during the Troubles in Northern Ireland.
"The Battle of Ia Drang, Vietnam": This striking image, taken in 1966 during the events in Vietnam, chronicles American soldiers in the midst of battle, engaged in fierce combat against Vietnamese forces .
"The Biafran Mother and Child": This photograph, taken in Nigeria in 1968, touches us with an emaciated mother holding her malnourished child in her arms.
'The Cyprus Conflict': This photo, taken in 1964 during the conflict between the Greek and Turkish communities in Cyprus, features a Greek woman mourning the loss of her husband.
"The Falklands War": McCullin captured many evocative images during the Falklands War in 1982.
"The Berlin Wall Falls": In 1989, McCullin photographed the historic moments of the fall of the Berlin Wall, marking the end of the division between East and West.
Main publications
"Unreasonable Behaviour": This is the autobiography of Don McCullin, published in 1990. In this book, he chronicles his life, his career as a war photographer and his experiences in conflict zones throughout the world. The book offers an intimate insight into his journey and his vision of photojournalism.
"The Palestinians": Published in 1980, this book is the result of a collaboration between the artist and the journalist Jonathan Dimbleby. It features poignant photographs that bear witness to the daily lives of Palestinians living in the West Bank and Gaza Strip, highlighting the challenges they face in their struggle for freedom and dignity.
"Shaped by War": Published in 2010, this book accompanies a retrospective exhibition presented at the Imperial War Museum North in Salford, England. It features a selection of McCullin's photographs taken around the world, offering a hard-hitting view of the human consequences of war.
"Don McCullin in Africa": Published in 2005, this book highlights the artist's work in Africa. It explores the complex realities of the continent, focusing on issues such as poverty, famine, armed conflict and the social consequences that flow from it.
"Southern Frontiers: A Journey Across the Roman Empire": Published in 2019, this book highlights a poetic and contemplative study of Roman and pre-Roman ruins in South Africa. North and Middle East.
Prizes and awards
McCullin receiving the World Press Photo Award in 1964 credit: Jack de Nijs for Anefo - Nationaal Archief
World Press Photo: He has won the prestigious World Press Photo award several times, including first prize in the "General News" category in 1964 and first prize in the "Spot News" category in 1967.
Pulitzer: Although he did not directly win the Pulitzer Prize, his work was honored with an honorable mention from the Pulitzer Prize jury for his Vietnam War photography in 1968.
Hasselblad Foundation: In 2019, he was awarded the special prize of the Hasselblad Foundation, a prestigious distinction in the field of photography.
Royal Photographic Society: He was awarded the Medal of Honor by the Royal Photographic Society in 1983 for his outstanding contribution to the art of photography.
Cornell Capa Infinity Award: In 2006, he was honored with the Cornell Capa Infinity Award from the International Center of Photography for his outstanding contribution to the field of documentary photography.
Main exhibitions
"Shaped by War": This retrospective exhibition was shown at the Imperial War Museum North in Salford, England in 2010. It was later shown at the Victoria Art Gallery in Bath and the Imperial War Museum in London.
"Don McCullin: A Retrospective": Organized by Tate Britain in London in 2019, this retrospective featured more than 250 photographs of McCullin, spanning his entire career since the 1950s.
"Don McCullin: The New Definitive Edition": This exhibition, which took place at the Hamiltons Gallery in London in 2021, highlighted a selection of his emblematic works, accompanied by the release of a new edition of his book "The New Definitive Edition".
"Don McCullin: Irreconcilable Truths": Organized by the Barbican Center in London in 2019, this exhibition explored the artist's work through different conflicts and humanitarian crises.
"Don McCullin: Looking Beyond the Edge": Presented at the Nikon Museum in Tokyo in 2019, this exhibition presented a selection of photographs, highlighting his work on the war in Vietnam, Biafra, Northern Ireland and other significant events in recent history.
McCullin's influences
Influence on cinema: McCullin's photographs have also been an inspiration for cinema. For example, his photos of Maryon Park in London were used by director Michelangelo Antonioni in his film "Blow-Up" (1966). Additionally, documentaries and biographical films about the artist's life have been made to highlight his work and his impact on photojournalism.
McCullin Quotes
"War photography isn't pretty. It's a raw record of cruelty, inhumanity and suffering."
"I am constantly drawn to people struggling to survive with dignity in extremely difficult circumstances."
"As a photojournalist, you have to be willing to risk your life to get an image that really matters."
"Photography is my way of telling others what is happening in the world, of showing the horrors and the beauties that exist."
"I am not a passive witness, I am an active participant in what I photograph."
"Photography is truth. And people love truth."
"I'm not here to judge, I'm here to document."
"I want my photographs to be a reminder of what happens when men hate each other and refuse to talk."
"A photograph cannot change the world, but it can change the way people see it."
"War is a disease. No one wins in a war, everyone loses."
10 incongruous things to know about McCullin
Despite his fame as a war photojournalist, he also produced series of photographs on subjects such as landscapes, still life and commissioned portraits.
He is a huge gardening enthusiast and has devoted part of his life to growing plants and flowers in his own garden.
Don McCullin was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II. He received the honorary title of Knight in 2017 for his outstanding contribution to photography. This royal honor recognizes and celebrates his remarkable achievements in the field of photography, as well as his continued commitment to his art. As a knight, he is now officially called Sir Don McCullin.
He was invited to photograph Queen Elizabeth II on several occasions, creating unique portraits of the British sovereign.
He played a part in the making of the James Bond film "The Living Daylights" (Dangerously Yours) in 1987 as an adviser for war scenes.
He survived many dangerous situations and was injured many times during his war reporting, including by shrapnel and bullets.
He is also an antique collector and has an extensive collection of historical items including weapons and artifacts.
He has been a member of the jury of the prestigious World Press Photo competition on several occasions, thus contributing to the recognition of the work of photojournalists around the world.
He was exposed to photography from an early age thanks to his father, who was passionate about this art form. This sparked his interest and inspired him to pursue a career in this field.
He has been invited to give lectures and speeches in many international institutions and events, sharing his experience and his point of view on photography and photojournalism.
Jean Dubreil