[Leica] Don McCullin

[images at comporium.net (Tina Manley)]

So true, Ted.  I don't think anybody ever gets over the adrenalin rush from
photographing in dangerous and exciting conditions.  Flowers just don't do
it!

My father was a highly decorated fighter pilot in WWII.  He never got used
to normal civilian life.

I think the secret is to find something bigger than yourself to concentrate
on.  Work for non-profits can be fullfilling and worthwhile.  Making a
difference in the world any way you can is the answer.

Tina

On Sun, Dec 23, 2012 at 12:21 PM, <tedgrant at shaw.ca> wrote:

> Tina Manley OFFERED:
> Subject: [Leica] Don McCullin
>
> Good morning Tina,
> Thank you for the heads-up on the McCullin interview!
>
> The surprising thing is.... He and I never met faceto face over the years,
> but were
> close a few times to find out later. But what he says about feelings?
> And "Celebrity crap?" I have the similar emotions.  His career and mine are
> similar in nature, although he has far more "super bad violence than I."
> However,  we've always had a "PURPOSE!" for and of doing the assignments
> whatever they may be.
>
> Although physically at 76, he's in a much great wreck than I at 84.  But
> it's the passion to do the assignments and the subjects there in that is
> such a driving force to go on. Hurting, mentally depressing at times and
> dragging yer butt so bad you almost wish you'd die right there where you
> are. :-(
>
> But the main driving element is.... "HAVING THE PURPOSE!" A sound reason
> for
> shooting the assignment! It's something far more meaningful than.... "going
> out to take snaps for no other reason than doing that.... "taking some
> snaps just as a time killer!"
>
> This is quite a different feeling than a "quiet time in the garden" coming
> down from the highs of 29 hours a day of madness and mayhem you've been
> through week after week!
>
> A quiet garden time camera in hand, can be the greatest comforting
> medicine in the world! From fears of stepping on? Surprise! "BOOM!" No
> legs! In the garden? Maybe a bee sting at most?
>
> But war photography didn't turn me on as it has others. Two were enough,
> 1967 and 1968 and it was game over! NO MORE! Even though asked to go to
> Afghanistan three times with Canadian troops. I turned them down!
> I love life and the excitement of being with "living people" doing exciting
> things. I'd much rather have the "PURPOSE of photographing medical people
> in
> hospitals at home, than the blood and guts spread all over from a land mine
> blast!" :-(
>
> Don's interview is most interesting. But he has a very strong "PURPOSE!"
> In this case, "AGE HAS NO MEANING!"  If one has not experienced this aspect
> of photography and being a photojournalist one might find it hard to
> understand. But it's there and a huge driving force to go on.... "Until
> death do us part!"
>
> Thank you for bringing Don's interview to our attention.
>
> cheers,
> Dr. ted
>
>
>
>
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>


-- 
Tina Manley, ASMP
www.tinamanley.com