“I want my picture to hurt you.” Now 90, renowned Vietnam War photographer Don McCullin shares why he wants to create photos to lose sleep over – and why he hates his most famous photograph

Renowned British photojournalist Don McCullin, who has spent over 50 years covering wars and global conflicts, says his goal is to create photographs that make people lose sleep at night. The renowned photographer will release what he claims is his final photo book titled Vietnam in October, his 91st birthday month. McCullin says his photographs are intentionally designed to be uncomfortable to look at, as he wants to make viewers feel uneasy, just as he feels when he goes to bed at night.

He believes that if his photographs become iconic, people will accept them, and they will not turn away.

McCullin's final book will feature the Battle of Haế in the Vietnam War, which the photographer still relives every night. He was on the ground for 11 days during the 26-day battle and took the iconic photograph of a shell-shocked soldier staring into the distance. McCullin hates this photograph, as people believe it's the only picture he's ever taken. He says that turning photographs into iconic images means they become bearable to look at, which is not his intention.

McCullin was known for putting his cameras down when necessary. He recounted an instance where he carried an injured Marine to safety in Vietnam. One of his most famous photographs, depicting an injured South Vietnamese soldier on National Highway 1, was also used on the front cover of The Sunday Times. The subject of the photograph was killed a few months later in another battle, and his brother sent McCullin a letter with $10, asking for a picture of his brother.

McCullin sent the picture and the money, but the experience left him emotionally drained, affecting his ability to communicate for days.