War’s Terrifying Beauty: Remembering Paul Lowe

Paul Lowe captured war’s scars with both compassion and artistry. We debated fiercely: Is photojournalism art or truth? His legacy leaves the question unanswered. Rest in Peace Paul.

Dr. Paul Lowe's untimely death has cast a long shadow over the world of photojournalism—a field he fiercely championed, shaping not only its practitioners but its very essence. For me, as a student in the MA Photojournalism and Documentary Photography program at the University of the Arts London in 2017/18, Paul was more than just the head of the department. He was a mentor, a man whose life was a testament to the power of images to bear witness to history's darkest moments. Yet, Paul was also someone with whom I often disagreed, our debates framed by the delicate and difficult intersection between the visual and the verbal, between photojournalism and art.

Bosnia and Herzegovina - © Photo: Paul Lowe

Paul’s body of work from Sarajevo, where he famously captured the agony of a city under siege, stands as one of the most enduring testaments to the power of images to affect change. His photographs weren’t merely documents; they were pleas for humanity. He would often speak of the strange b…