There are events you attend, and then there are evenings that stay with you long after you’ve left the room. Hearing Don McCullin speak at The Forum Bath last night was very much the latter.
At 90, McCullin remains sharp, reflective and disarmingly honest. In conversation with Mariella Frostrup, he offered a rare insight into a life spent documenting humanity at its most raw.
This was not always a comfortable evening, but it was an important one.
From poverty to purpose
McCullin spoke candidly about his early years growing up in poverty in Finsbury Park.
“I had the best eyes in the world but not the best brain,” he said, reflecting on a childhood shaped by hardship, including being sent away to as a child to Somerset during the war, a time he doesn’t look back on fondly/
He described a community where survival often meant escape, commenting that, “Everybody got drunk back then because they were hiding the poverty from their souls.”
That lived experience stayed with him. Later, when photographing people in extreme conditions, he recognised something deeper than the image itself.
“When I went into the homes of the poor, I could smell poverty.”
A photographer of people, not war
Although widely known for his war photography, McCullin resists the label. He spoke instead about his connection to individuals, whether documenting famine, conflict or life in the north of England, where he began his career and of which he recalls, “The people were always so kind.”
For McCullin, the camera has never been about spectacle, but about proximity.
“It’s me getting close to a person’s soul.”
That philosophy shaped some of the most unforgettable images of the 20th century – from starving families to traumatised soldiers – moments that are as human as they are historic.
The weight of witnessing
Despite the global recognition of his work, McCullin’s reflections carried a deep sense of unease. “If something becomes famous and iconic, and therefore almost enjoyable, I’ve failed,” he said.
He questioned whether his images have truly communicated the suffering they depict, adding that perhaps they were not “ugly” enough to convey the full reality.
There was also a stark honesty about the limits of photography itself.
“What I’ve done in my photography doesn’t seem to have been important because nothing seems to change.”
It’s a sobering thought, particularly in a world where images are more accessible – and more disposable – than ever.
A quieter focus
Now based in Somerset, McCullin has turned his attention to photographing Roman artefacts and local landscapes. There is a sense of retreat in this shift, but also of resolution.
Asked about the future of photojournalism, his response was blunt: “It’s dead.”
And while he remained engaging and often humorous throughout the evening, there was an unmistakable sadness in his closing words.
“I’ve had my day,” he said, “and hopefully tonight will be the last time I have to do this.”
Why it matters
For parents and older children alike, this was a reminder of the power of storytelling – and the responsibility that comes with it. McCullin’s work may centre on conflict, but at its heart is empathy. It challenges us to look more closely, feel more deeply and understand lives far removed from our own.
In an age of endless scrolling, that feels more relevant than ever.
Don’t miss the exhibition
If you didn’t make the talk, there is still a chance to experience McCullin’s work in Bath.
His exhibition, Broken Beauty, is currently showing at the The Holburne Museum, offering a powerful exploration of both devastation and quiet reflection through his lens.
It’s not always easy viewing, but it is unforgettable – and well worth making time for.
holburne.org/events/don-mccullin-broken-beauty/
For information of upcoming events at The Forum Bath, go to bathforum.co.uk
