Paul Lowe

Paul Lowe (6 November 1963 – 12 October 2024) was a British photojournalist and photographer known for his powerful documentary photography and deep engagement with life in Sarajevo, especially during and after the Bosnian War. His work spans major world events from the fall of the Berlin Wall to the conflict in the former Yugoslavia, with some of his most acclaimed series documenting the Siege of Sarajevo.

Early Life and Education

Lowe was born in London and grew up in Liverpool. He studied history and philosophy at the University of Cambridge before training in documentary photography. He later earned a PhD in photography, combining academic research with a lifelong passion for visual storytelling.

Career and Work

Paul Lowe’s career as a photojournalist began in the 1980s. He worked in more than 80 countries, covering pivotal political changes, revolutions, conflicts and humanitarian crises. His first major assignment was the fall of the Berlin Wall, and he went on to cover the Romanian revolution, the release of Nelson Mandela in South Africa and numerous other historic moments.

During the early 1990s, Lowe arrived in Sarajevo just after the siege began. For several years, he photographed daily life under bombardment: people going about their lives amid danger, resilience in the face of adversity, and moments of humanity amid suffering. His work from this period has been exhibited and published in many countries and remains a significant visual record of that chapter in Bosnian history.

Exhibitions and Publications

Lowe’s photography has been shown in international exhibitions, including multimedia presentations about life in Sarajevo during the war and post-war reconstruction. His 2005 book, Bosnians, presents a decade of images from Bosnia and Herzegovina, capturing both the turmoil of conflict and the resilience of its people.

He also authored several books on photography and photojournalism, including works on photographic technique, the history of the medium and guides for aspiring photographers.

Life in Sarajevo and Personal Connection

Lowe met his wife, Bosnian journalist Amra Abadžić, in Sarajevo in the early 1990s and the couple later married. Sarajevo was not just a subject for his work — it became his adopted home and the focus of much of his photographic legacy.

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