Don McCullin – Haunted by war
Written by duckrabbit“What purpose did any of it actually serve?” he asked early on. “People talk about the [Nick Ut] photo of the Napalm girl and say it changed things but the Vietnam War went on for three years after that. What do these pictures do? What good do they do? I’m asking myself that question. I thought those pictures that I took – that I risked my life for – would do something. They were meant to be seen by politicians, by decision-makers.
“I didn’t have to go to these places. I was the man who wanted to be there…who wanted to ram the pictures down your throat on a Sunday morning. Now when I think back at it I do not think it was worth the risk. I’m a terrible pessimist. I’ve come to think everything I did as a photographer was completely futile. I cannot allow myself to feel celebrated…not for any of those images.”
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Author — duckrabbit
duckrabbit is a production company formed by radio producer/journalist Benjamin Chesterton and photographer David White. We specialize in digital storytelling.
Discussion (3 Comments)
Some of those iconic pictures (eg- Ut, Adams) did have the effect of changing, or at least opening minds back then. I was a child, yet I sensed and felt it. Others, perhaps less iconic but strong and consistent nevertheless (like McCullin’s), gradually wore away the pretense and revealed the futility.
Totally agree Stan and they’re still important.
Me too – I’m with you both. It makes me really sad that McCullin is so down on everything he’s done. I guess for him the price was too high. Having said all that, he was still of the opinion that photographers/journalists should still be in those places. I think he’s got quite a confused stance on it all really but it’s to be expected I guess.