Don McCullin was a photographer’s assistant in the RAF during 1956. He failed the written theory test to become a photographer in the RAF and spent his service in the darkroom. This was when he bought his first camera for £30 but on returning to Britain he had to pawn it.
In 1958 he took a photograph of a London gang called The Guvnors in a bombed out building. He was encouraged by his colleges to submit his photo to The Observer and they published it. This began McCullin on his life of being a photographer.
Technical – The natural daylight creates a large amount of shadows with the beams in this building clashing with it’s structure and creating a busy photo, adding to the viewers emotional reaction to this bombed out building.
Visual – The men and vertical beams are repeated along the image and the building appears to fit into the rule of thirds creating an aesthetically pleasing image.
Contextual – The subjects in this photo are members of a London Gang called The Govnors inside a bombed out building from WW2
Conceptual – Post war effects are reflected in this photo by the state of the building.
Between 1966 and 1984 he worked as a photographer overseas for Sunday Times recording catastrophes such as war and the victims of the Africa AIDS epidemic. His work in the Vietnam war is very well renowned and honored by many photographers.
In 1968 McCullin’s Nikon stopped a bullet intended for him but this did not effect his passion for recording in these dangerous areas. In 1982 the British Government refused to grant McCullin a press pass to cover the Falklands war claiming the boat was full. He believed it was because the Thatcher Government felt the images might be too disturbing politically. He was also invited to photograph The Beatles at the height of their fame which was an easier and more trendy assignment.
Later in his life McCullin has turned to Landscape photography. With much of work being presented in exhibitions throughout England. He was named as the ‘Photo London Master of Photography’ in 2016.
Quotes:
“Digital photography can be a totally lying experience – you can move what you want, the whole thing can’t be trusted really “
“I have risked my life endless times, and ended up in hospital with all kinds of burns and shell wounds. I have those reptile eyes that see behind and in front of me. I’m constantly trying to stay alive. I’m aware of warfare, of hidden mines.”
Technical – This photo has low light with the sides of the track almost silhouetted and a higher light in the sky and path.
Visual – The light and dark contrast well in this image making the path and sky stand out. The position of the path makes it appear to go on forever.
Contextual – Don McCullin took this shot in 2000, near to the beginning of his landscape work.