The Art of War

Sir Don McCullin: The man who redefined war photography.

3 min read.

© Don McCullin

I don’t remember where it was that I first saw the photo, but I remember the hold it had on me. The photo is that of a man, mid sprint with his head ducked low, holding a Beretta Model 38 rifle. He looks to be sartorially inclined, wearing a long buttoned up trench coat, laced up Oxfords and a flat cap. A white shirt and tie peek behind the collar flaps of his coat. Behind him, stood in an open doorway and half hidden in the shadows, is a comrade holding a rifle and watching as the sartorially inclined man bolts off into the unknown.

The photo looked to me like a still from an old Italian War Film. There’s a cinematic quality to it. The composition, the movement, the framing, and so I opened up a new tab and searched for the source of the image. But what I found was not a war film, but the breathtaking work of Sir Don McCullin.

Sir Don McCullin made his name in the 60's as a war photographer, some even say he revolutionised it. Throughout his career has borne witness to some of the most harrowing and tragic events of the 20th century. From the dense and sweaty jungles of Vietnam, to the scorched and cratered streets of Beirut, his photography exposes us to the harsh realities of war, poverty and human suffering. His work isn’t about the glamorous war heroes or valiant saviours; it’s about the broken souls, the marginalised and the forgotten. Each photo a visceral punch to the gut. Images that are not easily forgotten. What sets McCullin apart is his capacity to capture within each frame a raw, unfiltered honesty that is as striking as it is unsettling.

Beyond the theatre of war, McCullin’s lens delves into the heart of destitution and suffering. He has turned it inward, capturing the unsettling underbelly of his native Britain. His series on the homeless in London, for instance, offers a stark juxtaposition of affluence and destitution, reminding us that despair knows no boundaries and his images evoke a raw and empathetic connection with his subjects. They serve as a poignant reminder of the necessity to confront the darkest aspects of humanity with compassion and understanding, and his life’s work will forever stand as a testament to the power of photography.