After more than seven decades covering conflicts worldwide, Don McCullin will return to Vietnam and his most famous images for his final book. The photographer, who began his career at age 23 when his photo of a Finsbury Park gang appeared in the Observer, has chosen to revisit the war and his 12-day stint with US Marines during the 1968 Battle of Hue.
Iconic Images of War
McCullin's photographs from the battle, including a shell-shocked American soldier, are among the most iconic of the conflict and are widely credited with helping shift US public opinion against the war. McCullin said he remains haunted by some images from one of the bloodiest battles of the Tet Offensive, which he described as 'total madness and insanity.'
'They bother me at night when I go to bed,' he said. 'They come uninvited back to me, and then I start saying: Could I have done better? Could I have done this or done that? The actual battle I was in, the final big battle I was in 1968. I saw an awful lot of American soldiers getting killed very close to me.'
Empathy as a Secret Ingredient
Harold Evans, one of McCullin's editors at the Sunday Times, said the secret to his talent was empathy for his subject, whether criminals in north London or guerrilla fighters in central Africa. According to Evans, McCullin combined a 'cold eye informed by the warmth of his empathy.'
Before Vietnam, McCullin honed his skills covering conflicts in the Congo during the chaotic lead-up to independence and in Cyprus, where he documented the civil war between Turkish and Greek factions. He was also present as the Berlin Wall was built and the Iron Curtain fell across Europe.
Retirement and Reflection
McCullin retired from war photography at age 75 after visiting Aleppo in Syria, where he could no longer move quickly enough to avoid danger. Since then, he has published books on other passions, including ancient Rome. His final book, titled 'Vietnam,' features over 100 images and war artifacts like his helmet with 'Times England' on the side and his muddied compass.
Why return to Vietnam instead of revisiting work in Belfast or Biafra? 'Because of all the wars that have been raging in the last 20, 30 or 40 years, there was no war like Vietnam,' he said. 'Sadly, 58,000 American soldiers died and 300,000 were wounded. It was an extraordinary American misadventure.'
A Celebrated Career
Now 91, McCullin is arguably the most celebrated living British photographer. He has had a retrospective at Tate Britain, touring shows worldwide, and continues to work from his base in Somerset. While his photography often brought war horrors to public attention and helped build moral cases for ending conflicts, he remains unconvinced about his images' power to effect change.
'I've made absolutely no impact whatsoever,' he said. 'I've come away with these pictures, and they were published, and people were shocked to see them. But look at the wars that have happened since the Vietnam war. They've all been misfortunate too. I've been to many wars in Lebanon, and it's still going on. How could I make a difference, really?'
The book will be released in October via Gost Books.
