Black and white evocation of man’s capacity to be evil

They’re Only Pictures features a series of black and white images shot by Newcastle photographer Paul Brown at Auschwitz when he visited the camp with members of the city’s Christian and Jewish community in 2010.

The exhibition, which has been launched to coincide with Holocaust Memorial Day on Friday, includes images of the camp that people don’t normally see and aims to make viewers think about how such a place can come into being.

Residentiary Canon Keith Punshon said: “The photographs are a stark reminder of humans’ capability to be evil and when we find ourselves in dark times they challenge us to look within and care for others and act for the good.”

The exhibition runs until February 15 and it has already attracted a number of visitors to the historic cathedral.

Canon Punshon said: “Members of the public are coming in and commenting. They find it challenging but appropriate that it is in the cathedral to make us think about the people whose lives were destroyed by this evil crime.”