Don McCullin going digital

Yeah, he was in the 5DMKIII thread on here the other day asking the best way to set up the different Cases in his new camera ;)
 
I've watched it and the thing I loved was how at last he seems to have some joy back in his life after the dark side of life he has seen, he genuinely seems excited at how good the current digital cameras are and not harping back to how good/difficult it was with real (read film) cameras.
Really good video. I bet Canon loved the fact that one of the worlds greatest photographers has endorsed a digital camera.

Matt
 
Very good. Interesting to see that he's quite relaxed about 'enhancing' his landscapes with Photoshop.

Looks as if Canon only supplied primes for this. Would have liked to hear his opinion on zooms. But, all-in-all, I'd say he has the makings of a pretty good snapper, if he applies himself. :p
 
Blow me - never knew he was English. Because of his association with Vietnam, I always assumed he was a Yank....
 
I am surprised.. at the end of his book "Sleeping with Ghosts", DM expresses his fondness for large-format landscape photography in his later years, perhaps as a cathartic release from the trauma of his war work. Moving over to digital at such a late stage seems almost a backward step.. but then, as a photographer who has printed his own images, he no doubt enjoys the control that a digital darkroom offers.

As someone who's shot exclusively in black and white all his life, I presume that DM will be converting all his images to mono :)

A.
 
Thanks for posting that. :thumbs: I finally got round to watching it. :)

I know it's an advert, but it was interesting to see how reacted to the (new to him) technology. Quite surprised that he is actually coming to Digital so late, :eek: but glad to see that he seemed to enjoy the tech. :)
 
Please.. he's been paid by Canon.. he'll say anything.
 
Don't be silly.
 
Yes, it was silly, wasn't it? I apologise.

Of course you wouldn't say it to his face.

But I really would caution against suggesting that he would say anything for money ("Please.. he's been paid by Canon.. he'll say anything") as this could well be interpreted as defamatory and damaging to his reputation.
 
Anorakus said:
I am surprised.. at the end of his book "Sleeping with Ghosts", DM expresses his fondness for large-format landscape photography in his later years, perhaps as a cathartic release from the trauma of his war work. Moving over to digital at such a late stage seems almost a backward step.. but then, as a photographer who has printed his own images, he no doubt enjoys the control that a digital darkroom offers.

As someone who's shot exclusively in black and white all his life, I presume that DM will be converting all his images to mono :)

A.
Click to expand...

McCullin has shots loads of colour as well, a lot of the Sunday Times front covers from the 70's were his
 
Pookeyhead, Jon Ryan - c'mon guys, let's not take it down that route ;)

I thought it was a refreshing (if contrived) film. Obviously Canon is going to edit to give it the best possible reflection on its products, but I think you can't disguise the genuine excitement of a photographer who lived his life through film and (probably) fully manual cameras. These days it's par for the course to not actually get that excited about kit as a photographer because the gains and changes are often not that massive, unless like McCullen you're changing in such a dramatic fashion.
 
specialman said:
Pookeyhead, Jon Ryan - c'mon guys, let's not take it down that route ;)

I thought it was a refreshing (if contrived) film. Obviously Canon is going to edit to give it the best possible reflection on its products, but I think you can't disguise the genuine excitement of a photographer who lived his life through film and (probably) fully manual cameras. These days it's par for the course to not actually get that excited about kit as a photographer because the gains and changes are often not that massive, unless like McCullen you're changing in such a dramatic fashion.
Click to expand...

^^^WHS^^^

As a long time admirer of McCullin's work I found it an interesting film, yes it's a promo but his enthusiasm for the world of digital is there for all to see. And having seen other interviews with him over recent times where the 'conflict years' seemed to weigh so heavily on his shoulders and almost engulf him it was good to see him smile, albeit briefly :)
 
Ignoring the advertising aspect of the film, what a fascinating insight into one of the best photographers around. I think I've just found another book that I can add to my Christmas wish list :)
 
McCullin/Intel http://www.youtube.com/user/searchofincredible/videos?view=0

Look near the bottom, posted a year ago, his transition isn't quite as much of a revelation as the film makes out....

The Canon film is more of a celebrity endorsement, he probably got very well paid for it, it's called advertising/marketing, don't know how it would be libel?
If Lomo paid me enough I would say there cameras are a step up from the 1DX.

I doubt Jamie Oliver would have spent 10 years telling us to go to Sainsbury's, without a very large donation to his bank account, McCullin is doing nothing different.

I'm just happy he's still shooting and don't really care how he does it, just wish he would revisit Bradford one day.
 
specialman said:
Pookeyhead, Jon Ryan - c'mon guys, let's not take it down that route ;)
Click to expand...

I actually enjoyed the film. Watched it twice now. Just don't get too convinced he's going to ditching his large format gear for a DSLR.
 
i read and watched most of it.

i maybe the only one,but i am bitterly dissaponted he isnt using Nikon still

its not a case of which is best its something else.

if i have to explain why you wouldnt understand
 
straycat said:
i read and watched most of it.

i maybe the only one,but i am bitterly dissaponted he isnt using Nikon still

its not a case of which is best its something else.

if i have to explain why you wouldnt understand
Click to expand...

I totally understand where you're coming from, just didn't want to be the first one to say it ;)
 
I loved it, there's some great pointers in there for newbies, and for the 'SOOC bores'.

For old film shooters coming to digital - use back button focus, it feels more like focussing an MF lens - because it's separate from the shutter.

The light is the most important element of the picture - the scramble from the car when the dramatic sky appears is a great insight into the difference between a photographer and someone who takes photo's.

The realisation that the enhancements done in Lightroom are an extension of the Darkroom, but then to find that many negs had been thrown where there might have been a printable image with the right amount of work.
 
Good to see Don in action. Shame the film was so cheesy though, as expected from Canon I suppose.

straycat said:
i maybe the only one,but i am bitterly dissaponted he isnt using Nikon still

its not a case of which is best its something else.

if i have to explain why you wouldnt understand
Click to expand...

Pointless brand loyalty to a multi-billion dollar company?
 
the bits with Don where OK,but most of it was a Canon advert.

"i can do everything with a 135mm and a 28mm"
marvelous


it did feel like Bobby Charlton was putting a poster of Colin Bell and Francis Lee on his wall to me though and it hurt.

i guess that shows i still have the passion.
 
straycat said:
i read and watched most of it.

i maybe the only one,but i am bitterly dissaponted he isnt using Nikon still

its not a case of which is best its something else.

if i have to explain why you wouldnt understand
Click to expand...

Maybe he no longer needs a camera body to save him from bullets? ;)

Maybe Nikon haven't offered him an endorsement?
 
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