Sir Donald McCullin CBE, born on October 9, 1935, in St Pancras, London, is a renowned British photojournalist celebrated for his powerful documentation of war and urban strife. Since the inception of his career in 1959, McCullin has dedicated himself to capturing the harsh realities of society, portraying the struggles of the unemployed, oppressed, and impoverished individuals.
McCullin spent his formative years in Finsbury Park, London, but was evacuated to a Somerset farm during the Blitz. Despite grappling with mild dyslexia, he demonstrated an early aptitude for drawing. After leaving school at 15 due to his father’s death, McCullin pursued a catering job on the railways before serving in the Royal Air Force during National Service.
McCullin’s journey into photojournalism began during his service in the RAF, where he worked as a photographer’s assistant during the Suez Crisis. Despite failing the written theory paper to become a photographer, he honed his skills in the darkroom. McCullin’s photographic endeavors intensified upon acquiring his first camera, a Rolleicord, while stationed in Nairobi. His breakthrough came in 1958 when The Observer published his striking photograph of a local London gang, igniting his career as a photographer. Over the years, McCullin covered a range of conflicts and crises, including the Vietnam War, the Northern Ireland conflict, and the Falklands War. Notably, he also photographed the Beatles during their iconic “Mad Day Out” session in 1968.
McCullin authored several books, including “The Palestinians” (with Jonathan Dimbleby, 1980), “Beirut: A City in Crisis” (1983), and “Don McCullin in Africa” (2005). His publication “Shaped by War” (2010) accompanied a retrospective exhibition at the Imperial War Museum North. In addition to his war photography, McCullin’s recent works delve into landscapes, still-life compositions, and commissioned portraits.
McCullin’s life and work were the subjects of numerous documentaries, including “Just One More War” (1977) and “McCullin” (2012), directed by David Morris and Jacqui Morris. In 2015, he was honored as the Photo London Master of Photography for 2016. His BBC Four documentary, “The Road To Palmyra,” aired in 2018, showcasing his exploration of the Syrian conflict’s impact on the UNESCO site of Palmyra.
Despite his acclaim as a war photographer, McCullin acknowledges the influence of Alfred Stieglitz on his work, highlighting a broader artistic inspiration beyond the realm of photojournalism.
Conflict Zones and International Assignments
(1969-1983)
Books and Documentary Works
(1984-2003)
Exhibitions and Recognition
(2004-2010)
