NEWSLINE PAPER,- In the little village of Tintern, which is tucked away in the picturesque surroundings of south Wales, one can frequently see an old guy taking pictures during family get-togethers and community events. Still, David Hurn, at 89, goes beyond the category of typical photographer.
Over seven decades, he has painstakingly recorded a vast range of subjects, from the terrible Aberfan catastrophe to the legendary Beatles at the height of Beatlemania. His establishment of the prestigious School of Documentary Photography in Newport in the 1970s shaped the careers of many budding photographers.
Hurn, who is frequently regarded as Wales' most important living photographer, has gained new fans recently thanks to his use of social media. Hurn was first afraid of social media sites like Twitter and Instagram, but in the end he was pulled to the latter and opened an account there in 2016 to post his thoughts on photography and highlight photos from his remarkable career.
Over 54,000 people follow his Instagram posts, which have resonated with photography lovers all over the world and led to the release of a photo book called "David Hurn: On Instagram."
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| David Hurn / Magnum Photos |
Growing up in Cardiff, Hurn never planned to become a photographer. Originally hoping to become a veterinarian, his dyslexia caused an unanticipated detour in his career and forced him to drop out of school without a diploma. After serving in the National Service and moving to The Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, he came upon a moving picture in Picture Post, which sparked a strong emotional reaction.
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| David Hurn / Magnum Photos |
This experience stoked his love of photography and led him to London to work in the field. Hurn was self-taught, yet he became well-known very fast, and his work appeared in prestigious journals like Life Magazine and The Observer.
Hurn's portfolio includes a wide variety of themes, from current events to capturing the charm of Hollywood celebrities like Audrey Hepburn and Sophia Loren. Significantly, his part in capturing important historical moments like the Aberfan disaster aftermath and the Hungarian Revolution highlights the ability of visual storytelling to record human experiences.
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| David Hurn / Magnum Photos |
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| David Hurn / Magnum Photos |
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| David Hurn / Magnum Photos |
Apart from his meetings with famous people, Hurn frequently captures the beauty of ordinary life in his photographs, therefore capturing what he refers to as "the exotic of the mundane."
Hurn is humble about his contributions to the discipline, even with his many honors and achievements, such as founding the School of Documentary Photography. Even as he gets closer to becoming ninety, he keeps following his love, planning future publications and continuing to educate aspiring photographers.
His extensive legacy bears witness to the satisfaction that comes from a lifetime of artistic expression and the transforming potential of photography. In looking back on his incredible journey, Hurn recognizes the enormous influence of a single shot that paved the way for a successful and well-known career.
(Newsline Paper Teams)