Renowned British photojournalist Paul Lowe was fatally stabbed while hiking in Southern California’s San Gabriel Mountains. His 19-year-old son has been charged with his murder.
Lowe was a photographer and war journalist who made a career in the 1980s-90s documenting pivotal global events, including the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Russian invasion of Grozny in Chechnya, the war in the former Yugoslavia, and Nelson Mandela’s release from prison.
The 60-year-old news veteran suffered severe trauma to his upper torso and was pronounced dead on Saturday near Stoddard Canyon Falls, according to the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Office.
The medical examiner confirmed that he died from a stab wound to the neck.
Police said first responders were called to the scene by a passerby. Lowe’s son was seen driving away, but he crashed his vehicle a few miles further.
Evidence and witness statements led to his arrest.
On Tuesday, the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office filed one count of murder against Emir Abadzic Lowe in connection with his father’s death.
After years of conflict photography, Lowe became a professor of Conflict, Peace and the Image at London College of Communication, University of the Arts London.
“Paul’s work across his career made a ground-breaking impact in the representation of war and conflict and latterly in the complex cultural negotiations involved in peace and reconciliation work,” the university said in a statement.
“Paul leaves an incredible legacy as an award-winning photographer, author, critic and, not least, as a truly compassionate educator.”
According to his biography, Lowe published his work in many major publications, including Time, Newsweek, Life, The Observer, and The Independent.
Lowe’s books on his war reporting were a great success, notably his “Reporting the Siege of Sarajevo,” which documents the longest siege in modern European history, and a related book titled “Bosnians.” He also authored several technical works about photojournalism and the art of photography.
Witnessing war up close for extensive periods led Lowe to focus his research on the ethical issues of wartime photography.
“You know, 10,000 people died in the siege of Sarajevo, but how’d you translate that into an experience that an audience can connect with in a more personal, more empathetic way for example,” he said in an introductory video on the London College of Communication’s YouTube page.
“What I was really interested in, as a photographer, was this sense of what happens to ordinary people in these extraordinary situations. And conflict obviously is one of the most extraordinary situations.”
Tributes Made
Tributes poured in from colleagues and peers following the news of Lowe’s death. Santiago Lyon, former vice president and director of photography at The Associated Press, who worked with Lowe during the siege of Sarajevo, praised his bravery and dedication.
“Paul was a very talented, courageous and committed photojournalist who repeatedly put himself in harm’s way to show the world the reality of war zones and humanitarian crises around the world,” Lyon said.
“He then became an accomplished and well respected educator dedicated to preparing future generations of photojournalists. His untimely death has profoundly affected the photojournalism community and we are in shock.”
Lowe also taught at The VII Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to training journalists from underrepresented communities. The foundation released a statement mourning his passing, describing him as a “courageous and beloved comrade, and a deeply devoted father and husband.”
“The loss is shocking and overwhelming, and our hearts go out to his wife and family,” the foundation said.
The Associated Press contributed to this article.