Don McCullin's landscape photography

Alex Benjamin · Jul 4, 2022

Interesting interview with Don McCullin about his landscape photography, and his view about landscape photography in general.

As is usually the case, it's way too short. I would have taking much more of his thoughts—or even better, taken a few walks with him hoping he would show me how and what he sees.

Alan Johnson · Jul 5, 2022

I have his book "Open Skies" ,1989, comprising pictures taken near his home in Somerset.
He seems to differ from most B/W landscape photographers in heavily burning in his skies.
May be part of the secret of his success?

Sirius Glass · Jul 5, 2022

Alex Benjamin said:
Interesting interview with Don McCullin about his landscape photography, and his view about landscape photography in general.

As is usually the case, it's way too short. I would have taking much more of his thoughts—or even better, taken a few walks with him hoping he would show me how and what he sees.

Thank you. I am glad that I stopped to sit and watch the video all the way through. Really impressive.

Chuck1 · Jul 5, 2022

thank you very much worth 8 minutes.

Arthurwg · Jul 5, 2022

His autobiography, "Unreasonable Behavior," is a great read.

Alex Benjamin · Jul 5, 2022

Alan Johnson said:
I have his book "Open Skies" ,1989, comprising pictures taken near his home in Somerset.
He seems to differ from most B/W landscape photographers in heavily burning in his skies.
May be part of the secret of his success?

He is certainly looking for drama—and doesn't deny it in the video, comparing the landscape to "an etching with drama." I thought the same about the burning, but wondered afterwards if it wasn't a case of systematically using an orange or red filter, seeing how much the shadows are also darkened.

250swb · Jul 31, 2022

Alan Johnson said:
I have his book "Open Skies" ,1989, comprising pictures taken near his home in Somerset.
He seems to differ from most B/W landscape photographers in heavily burning in his skies.
May be part of the secret of his success?

I think he's totally in alignment with the English pastoral landscape tradition of Gainsborough, Turner, Constable, etc. In a country that can have four seasons in one day the sky and the weather is ever present and important, it's not just an accessory to the hard bits of the landscape but a feature that makes it complete. It would be interesting to know which music he would be humming while pressing the shutter, but I bet it would be also in the English pastoral tradition of Tallis, Dowland, Vaughn Williams, Elgar, etc. So there are clues in the film, he talks of the trees without their leaves showing their true character, he talks of the landscape being moulded by the weather, he talks of the way the sky changes the feeing of landscape, he talks of threat and tranquillity, and all these things are expressive ideas despite him saying he is 'only' a photographer. He's photographing not just what he's seeing but also what he's feeling, something his war work never allowed.

Louis Nargi · Aug 1, 2022

Thank You for this

logan2z · Aug 1, 2022

I'd come across this one before but it was worth watching a second time.

I hope to be wandering around making photographs when I'm 87 years old. Such an inspiration.

pippopappo · May 23, 2023

I agree with you @logan2z I wish I could get to that age ...and still be able to feel in awe

Don McCullin's landscape photography

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