If you haven’t heard of Don McCullin then it’s likely you’ve been living in an underground bunker for the last 50 years. His work as a photojournalist has shaped the way that the world sees war, laying bare the horrific truth and surprising beauty which can be found in some of the worlds most dangerous conflicts. His latest book Shaped by War is a retrospective, in the best sense of the word, detailing the career of an extraordinarily courageous man and gifted photographer to boot. Images range from McCullin’s influences and childhood photos to some of his most iconic work, showing the evolution of an artist.
The most refreshing thing about the book is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously and yet it handles the truth of war with the utmost care and respect. Through this powerful collection of images and stories we are able, for the first time in many cases, to see behind the scenes of a life lived on the edge and the often hidden bureaucracy which comes with documenting sensitive political affairs.
As a child growing up in London during the Blitz, McCullin feels that he has been shaped by war and what this book demonstrates so eloquently is just how we are all shaped by war in one way or another. The book accompanies a major touring exhibition of McCullin’s images and photographic paraphernalia (including cameras with bullet holes puncturing the casing) but is an exceptional piece of work in its own right, well worth the ￡25 price tag.
Shaped by War can be seen at,
Imperial War Museum North, Manchester, February 6 – June 13 2010
Victoria Art Gallery, Bath, September 11 – November 21 2010
Imperial War Museum, London, October 7 2011 – January 30 2012
Daniel
March 19, 2010
As good as I'm sure the book is, I imagine this is a lot more impressive as a full exhibition. Went to Imperial War in Manchester and it was pretty spectacular.
Wardy
October 29, 2010
I also went to the imperial war museum north and saw his exhibition. I noticed in one of his books he went to Doncaster where I am from but only seen one image from it would be interested to see the rest.
John Ashburne
December 1, 2010
Hi all. Not sure about Doncaster, but he took a lot of photographs in Bradford, my home town. If I am correct his first collected series of work in Britain after his VN experiences was the ‘Homecoming’ book, with lots of Bradford pictures. I guess he saw some strong resemblances between war zones and my home town.
the ‘No Nazis in Bradford’ shot by the way is not on an ‘estate’, but at the bottom of the once-notorious Lumb Lane. Been there often, and myself shot a picture of a policeman training a police horse on this very spot. I too am a photographer, and McCullin has been a major influence. I now live in Japan, where he is, quite incredibly, almost unknown.