PROJECT DOCUMENTS OF CONFLICT AND SUFFERING
Exercise 4.3
Listen to Don McCullin talking about his exhibition Shaped by War on Radio 4’s Excess Baggage: www.bbc.co.uk/radio/player/b00qlgzg (Open College of the Arts, 2014:86)
- McCullin is clear that the purpose of the war photograph is to enlighten the viewer who aren’t there what war is like.
- When asked about the title of the exhibition “Shaped by war”, what effect has war had on you as a person? He answered that he wanted the photos to create a response; though he feels that the fact that he has to talk so much about his photos is slightly defeating as the images should be talking for themselves and if viewers need supplementing what, where, why, the what was their purpose?
- In retrospect he realised that war photos should be about civilian suffering as they are those that are done unto.
- McCullin says wanted to be the voice of the people in these images, and sees the images as a window into other peoples lives, a form of communication. He sounds weary in the interview and it is clear that he is still very affected by his experiences and that is still suffering close to his mind whatever he is photographing now.
- He believes that he gave his subjects some dignity by photographing alone
- He notes that you need a reflective attitude towards the suffering you portray, a knowledge and personal investment, though the goriest images don’t necessarily tell a story well.
References:
Open College of the Arts (2014) Photography 2: Documentary-Fact and Fiction (Course Manual). Barnsley: Open College of the Arts.
Shaped by War, Photographs by Don McCullin (2010) At: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T5SLVAxt7NI&feature=youtu.be (Accessed 02/01/2021).
Photography 2: Documentary 