Larry Towell
(1953–)
Larry Towell
1953–
Larry Towell (1953– ) is a Canadian photojournalist, poet, and oral historian known for his images of conflict from around the globe. Working in both analogue and digital photography, Towell shoots exclusively in black and white.
Born in Chatham, Ontario, Towell grew up in a large family in rural Ontario. He studied visual arts and creative writing at York University which sparked his interest in photography. In 1976, he volunteered in Calcutta, India, where he took an interest in issues of land, landlessness, and the distribution of wealth. Upon returning to Canada, he wrote poetry and folk music before becoming a freelance photographer in 1984. In 1988, Towell became the first Canadian member of Magnum, an international photography cooperative.
Photographing global conflicts, Towell’s choice of subject matter is largely driven by his fascination with landlessness. His work explores how land shapes identity and the fallout when land, and thus identity, is lost. Some of his subjects include the Contra war in Nicaragua, the civil war in El Salvador, the Afghan civil war, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, the Mennonite migrant workers of Mexico, the Standing Rock protests in North Dakota, and scenes from his own 75-acre sharecrop farm in Ontario.
Towell’s photographs and writing have been published in the New York Times, Life, Rolling Stone, the New Yorker, Stern, and other magazines. Furthermore, he has published fourteen books, released four musical albums, and a short film. He has participated in numerous solo and group exhibitions globally, and his photographs are held in many public and private collections. His photographic work has garnered many awards, including the 1994 World Press Awards Photo of the Year. Towell currently lives in Lambton County, Ontario, with his wife, Ann, and their four children.