Don McCullin, almost 90 years old, and still with an uncompromising view of the world
Meet Vietnam, Lebanon, Congo... The British photographer covered the major conflicts of the 20th century. At 89, this legend of war reporting, famous for his dark, somber photographs, is exhibiting at the La Gacilly cultural center in Morbihan until October 5.
Don McCullin, in La Gacilly (Morbihan), in June 2025. STÉPHANE LAVOUÉ/PASCO
To go further
He may drive a BMW SUV, wear a handsome tweed suit, and have been knighted by the Queen, but photographer Don McCullin will always remain a weed that grew in the squalid soil of Finsbury Park, North London. At the entrance to the cultural center in La Gacilly, a small Morbihan village where the photography festival is preparing to honor him, the 89-year-old Briton spotted two police officers out of the corner of his eye.
“When I see the police, I have a kind of reflex. As a kid, I hung out with thugs and criminals,” he confides. “As a teenager, I went to a small art school, but I couldn’t stay there. The influence of the boys I grew up with was too strong. If they saw that you were trying to educate yourself, they would bring you back into their ranks. It was very tribal, a bit like football fans. You had to be tough, know how to…
Article reserved for subscribers.
Log inSummer offer: €1/month for 6 months
Le Nouvel Observateur
