For each episode of Behind the Shot I write a post with some information about my guest. I usually use a combination of the guest’s bio, along with pieces of info I gather through research, to try and give a bit of insight into that guest. This episode is much harder than usual.

A friend of mine (thank you Scott) told me about a new book that was coming out. He then introduced me to someone at Grand Central Publishing, and they kindly sent me a copy of the book. I am not speechless often, but this book had me close.

The book is called “Uncommon Grit”, and it is one of the most powerful set of images I have ever seen. I cannot recommend buying this book enough, seriously. More on the book in a bit, as I want you to get to know it’s author first.

Darren McBurnett (SEAL) Ret. is a combat veteran, professional photographer, author, ambassador, and motivational speaker. In “Uncommon Grit” Darren takes us behind the scenes of the elite SEAL training program, BUD/S, in Coronado, California. If you have heard anything about this training, or seen any of the documentaries on it, you already know it’s damn tough, but trust me when I say that Darren’s photos will show you that your imagination is lacking.

In high school Darren earned MVP and state honors in cross country, track, indoor track, and swimming. He has a degree from Purdue, where he was on the cycling and water polo teams, and he was the captain of the rowing team. He’s completed hundreds of road races, endurance and swimming events, marathons, and triathlons, including the Boston Marathon and two Ironman triathlons. That type of drive and athleticism is amazing on its own.

After college Darren started a 24-year SEAL career that included numerous deployments to combat zones in support of missions such as Operation Iraq Freedom, Operation Enduring Freedom, Kosovo crisis, Liberia, and Operation Inherent Resolve. He was a SEAL platoon leader, and received 49 individual, unit, and campaign honors, including a Bronze Star. Darren McBurnett is the real deal.

McBurnett has become an accomplished speaker and motivator, presenting to companies and groups including CDW, AIG, Budweiser, Rite-Aid, Founders Brewing Company, Hilton Hotels, BMO, National Quarterback Club, Arbor Pharmaceuticals, and many others. He is also an award-winning photographer, his professional portfolio including work for NIKE, National Geographic, Fox and Friends, Rolling Stone, CBS SEAL Team, and the movie “Act of Valor”. His work has appeared on everything from album covers to billboards to walls of Fortune 500 companies and is in the homes of Charlie Sheen, Kid Rock, Jim McMahon, John Rich, Brent Burns, Roger Clemens, and John Daly. Darren is proud to be an ambassador for Uncommon Grit Foundation, a nonprofit he started in 2020 to assist military, first responders, and their families—those who answer the call.

This book is an unprecedented look at the toughest training in the military — and the world — from the vantage point of someone who lived through it. Darren’s descriptions of both the physical and mental evolutions that occur as a result of the immensely challenging SEAL training process, combined with his photos – images that are moving, powerful, and on occasion uncomfortable – offer a rare glimpse not only into the training itself, but the people that chose to go through it.

This show is photography based, so let me focus on the the photos for a minute. The images in this book are amazing. Not just because of the subject matter, although they are because of that too, but because they are some of the best technical photojournalism style images I have seen. Darren is not just a photographer that had access to something usual, he’s a master at story telling. When I opened this book I found myself in awe of his skill as a photographer, as much as his ability to show me a subject I wanted to see. Framing and composition in these shots is stunning. Storytelling is unmatched. The use of light, detail, and scene, are cinematic.

Join retired Navy SEAL, motivational speaker, author, and photographer, Darren McBurnett and me as we discuss his book “Uncommon Grit”, his photographic style, and one of the amazing images from the book on this episode of Behind the Shot.

Available Wherever Books Are Sold: grandcentralpublishing.com

Website: dmcburnett.com

Frans Lanting: lanting.com