It’s a rare thing that you get to meet a person who is both master of their craft and an influence on you, let alone spend three hours sitting in their kitchen having a chinwag over (excellent) coffee. The 3rd of December was one of those rare occasions, when I went to visit the legendary Welsh photographer David Hurn at his cottage.
As much as I admire David’s photography, it was his manner and perspective in a few interviews I’d recently watched, as well as his micro-essays on Instagram, which left me especially interested in him as a person. My friend and fellow photographer, Tom, initially recommended a long-form interview with David by Ffoton which I found so insightful I listened twice over. There was an unpretentious precision and emphasis on the actionable in his take on topics of craft, process, vocation, and culture that appealed to me – ultimately, an ability and willingness to cut through bullshit. All of this compelled me to send him an email in the hope of chatting in person.
So, I ventured out of Cardiff with no specific intentions other than to have an honest and open chat with someone who has truly been there and done it. Thanks to David’s openness and generosity with his time, that is exactly what I was fortunate enough to experience.
We discussed coffee, Coca-Cola, Cardiff City losing 10-1 to Moscow in the first game post-WWII, his experience photographing The Beatles, work ethic and process, Vivian Maier, Don McCullin, Al Pacino, and hats. I even climbed up a ladder to help him figure out how a squirrel was getting into his house.
As a bonus, David asked to take my photo, which he did with zero fuss. I asked to take his photo, and spent the next minute or so snapping four shots from different angles – one of which I’ve included below.
I came away from the conversation desperately trying to remember everything we’d discussed, but also with an urgency and excitement to move forward in creative pursuits with a heightened focus. His reminder to understand editorial process and one’s audience struck a chord. It’s prescient, but easily overlooked or even dismissed. It’s tempting to try and be everything – something I’m guilty of – but David Hurn brought a clarity to the value of committing to doing one thing very well; with intent, discipline, curiosity, and respect for process.
The Thoughts of Others
- “We live in a world that changes more rapidly now than it ever did before. To be a photographer in a world which changes perpetually we must be comfortable with change, and be able to adapt our views when confronted with new truths. We must be willing to explore many aspects of life.” – David Hurn
