David Hurn is a Welsh photographer whose career spans over five decades. Born in 1934 in Cardiff, Wales, he was determined to pursue a career in photography from a young age. He was inspired by photography’s power to capture and preserve moments in time, and aspired to use his work to document the changing world around him.

Hurn attended the Cardiff College of Art from 1952-1956, and later, from 1958-1959, the London School of Printing and Graphic Arts. He also studied with the renowned photographer Bill Brandt. During this time, he was influenced by the British documentary photography movement, which focused on the everyday lives of people and sought to bring attention to social and political issues. Hurn’s early work reflected these themes, as he documented the lives of the working class in Wales and other parts of the United Kingdom.

In the early 1960s, Hurn began to focus more on his own personal work, which ranged from landscape and travel photography to portraiture and street photography. He also became involved in the Magnum Photos agency, which allowed him to travel around the world and take photographs in conflict zones such as the Vietnam War. Hurn’s work during this period was highly acclaimed and he became a respected and sought-after photographer.

During the 1970s, Hurn moved away from documentary photography and began to focus more on creating fine art photographs. This period of his career saw him experiment with different techniques, such as double exposures, long exposures and solarization, and he produced a number of iconic images, such as his photograph of a tree in a snow-covered field. He also produced a series of photographs of the Welsh landscape, which he described as ‘a visual diary of my life in Wales’.

In the 1980s, Hurn created a number of books, such as his acclaimed volume ‘The Welsh Landscape’. He also produced a number of television programmes, including a documentary about the life of the Welsh photographer Ivor Davies. In the 1990s, Hurn’s work became increasingly abstract, with a focus on the play of light and shadow. He also explored a more conceptual approach to photography, creating photographs that were as much about the process of creating them as they were about the final image.

In the 2000s, Hurn continued to explore the possibilities of photography, producing work that often featured elements of chance and the unexpected. He also became increasingly involved in teaching and mentoring, passing on his knowledge and experience to the next generation of photographers. In 2010, he was awarded an OBE for his services to photography.

Today, Hurn continues to be an active photographer, and his work is held in a number of galleries and museums around the world. He is also a passionate advocate for photography, and has spoken out in favour of the medium’s importance in documenting and preserving history. His work is a testament to the power of photography to capture, preserve and interpret the world around us.

Wonderful video about David Hurn

Great video about David Hurn

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