At 90 years old, Sir Don McCullin, Britain's most revered war photographer, has turned his lens from global conflict zones to the tranquil beauty of the Somerset countryside in a deeply personal new collection that he credits with saving his sanity.
A Photographer's Peace Found in Rural England
After decades documenting some of the world's most harrowing conflicts from Vietnam to Northern Ireland, McCullin has discovered profound healing in the waterlogged fields and ancient woodlands near his Somerset home. The legendary photographer, whose career spans over six decades, now finds solace in capturing the changing seasons and dramatic skies of the Somerset Levels.
'Somerset saved my sanity,' McCullin reveals, explaining how the landscape has become both his subject and his therapy. The haunting beauty of flooded fields and skeletal winter trees provides a stark contrast to the human suffering he witnessed throughout his career.
From Battlefields to Water Meadows
The transformation in McCullin's work is both striking and poignant. Where once his photographs captured the raw horror of war, they now document the subtle drama of nature - from morning mist rising over the Levels to the stark beauty of leafless trees against stormy skies.
His connection to Somerset runs deep. Having lived in the county for decades, McCullin has developed an intimate relationship with the landscape, knowing exactly when and where to capture its most dramatic moments. The results are photographs that pulse with emotional intensity, reflecting both the landscape's beauty and the photographer's own journey toward peace.
A Legacy of Seeing
Even in these peaceful compositions, McCullin's expert eye for light, shadow, and composition remains unmistakable. The technical mastery that made his war photography so powerful now serves a different purpose - capturing the soul of the English countryside.
The new collection serves as a powerful testament to art's healing potential and the restorative power of nature. For aspiring photographers and art lovers alike, McCullin's late-career transformation offers inspiration about finding new creative directions and the possibility of redemption through artistic expression.
As McCullin approaches his tenth decade, these Somerset landscapes represent more than just beautiful images - they are visual diaries of healing, proof that even after witnessing humanity's darkest moments, peace can be found in the quiet corners of the English countryside.
