Renowned British photojournalist Sir Don McCullin captivated audiences at the Xposure International Photography Festival 2025 in Sharjah, UAE. With a career spanning over six decades, McCullin has documented some of the most defining and devastating moments of modern history, offering an unflinching lens into the realities of war, conflict, and human suffering.
Exhibition Highlights: “Life, Death, & Everything In Between”
At Xposure 2025, McCullin presented his exhibition titled “Life, Death, & Everything In Between”. This powerful body of work offered a retrospective of his life’s work—images from Vietnam, Northern Ireland, Biafra, Syria, and beyond. Each frame conveyed not only history, but humanity. The exhibition was hosted in Gallery Hall C, drawing a continuous crowd throughout the week.
Stage Talk: Bearing Witness in the Main Auditorium
One of the most anticipated moments of the festival was McCullin’s StageX talk titled “Bearing Witness: Through the Darkness of History”, delivered live in the main auditorium before an audience of 400 attendees. He was joined in conversation by fellow icon James Nachtwey. The discussion explored the moral responsibility of photojournalists, the emotional cost of witnessing trauma, and the enduring role of photography in shaping public memory.
Workshops: Experience from the Field
In addition to his exhibition and talk, McCullin led intimate workshops with aspiring photographers, sharing deeply personal insights into his craft. He spoke about surviving on the front lines, building trust with subjects, and the challenge of remaining emotionally present while photographing despair. His sessions were grounded in empathy, technique, and years of earned wisdom.
About Sir Don McCullin
Born in 1935 in Finsbury Park, London, Sir Don McCullin began his photographic career documenting gang life in post-war Britain before becoming one of the most respected war photographers of the 20th century. His work has taken him to Vietnam, Lebanon, Cambodia, and Syria, and he remains widely recognised for his images of the Biafran famine and the Troubles in Northern Ireland. He was knighted in 2017 for services to photography.
Though known primarily for his conflict photography, McCullin has also produced striking images of English landscapes and working-class life. His legacy continues to influence generations of documentary photographers around the world.
Explore More of McCullin’s Work
Note: All images, exhibitions, and references are sourced directly from xposure.net and its subdomains to ensure accuracy and alignment with festival guidelines.
