Donald Boström

From war and conflict to intimate encounters with people around the world. On 13 November, we open Life is But a Day, an exhibition featuring Swedish photojournalist Donald Boström. Through a selection of photographs spanning several decades and more than 80 countries, you are invited to discover not only the images themselves, but also the stories behind them. The exhibition is also a tribute to photojournalism and its importance at a time when the line between reality and manipulation is becoming increasingly difficult to distinguish.

Donald Boström (born 1954) is one of Sweden's most experienced photojournalists. Armed with his camera and pen, he has spent decades reporting from some of the world's most vulnerable regions, with a particular focus on the Middle East and East Africa. His work has taken him to war zones and conflict areas, but also into the everyday lives of people around the world, documenting stories of poverty, illness, conflict, and migration.

Life is But a Day brings together around 20 works that offer a glimpse into an extraordinary career in journalism. Alongside the powerful photographs are the stories behind them – stories of people, encounters, and the sometimes life-altering decisions made behind the camera.

“For me, it has always been about trying to understand the people and situations I encounter before telling their stories. Behind every photograph is a context, a life, and often a story much bigger than what the image itself can capture. I hope this exhibition encourages people not only to look at the photographs, but to truly see the people in them,” says Donald Boström.

The exhibition also raises questions about the photographer's responsibility. How close can you get to another person? What should be documented, and what should be left outside the frame? And how does a lifetime spent witnessing war, violence, and human suffering affect the person behind the camera?

At a time when AI-generated images and disinformation are challenging our understanding of what is real, the importance of documentary photojournalism has become more relevant than ever. For us, the exhibition is an opportunity to highlight a journalistic tradition in which photography does more than document history – it helps us understand it.

“Donald Boström has a unique ability to both capture defining moments through his lens and tell the stories behind them. This is about more than powerful images. It's about journalism that requires time, courage, presence, and a genuine interest in people. At a time when we are constantly flooded with images whose origins we cannot always trust, highlighting this kind of photography feels more important than ever,” says Mohamed Mire, Exhibition Producer at Fotografiska Stockholm.

The exhibition also coincides with the release of the book Life is But a Day, in which Donald Boström, in conversation with Benke Carlsson, looks back on his life as a photojournalist and reflects on the power of photography, the ethical dilemmas of journalism, and the importance of being there when history unfolds.