Our prison documentary comes to an end

September 1, 2008 | by Tim Gruber | personal, prison |

Yesterday marked the last day of our documentary at the prison. I’m not sure what to make of the whole experience as I don’t think my feelings about the project, people, and the place have really settled.

There’s something about the place, but mostly the people that gets in your system. Like they say if you miss a day you miss a lot. I joke with Jenn that if this whole photography thing doesn’t work out I now have something to fall back on in corrections.(With the state of our business that might not be much of a joke.)

As incredible freeing as it is to work on a personal project it was also incredibly taxing moreso than anything I’ve done photographically in my life. At times I would have done anything to have a mindless portrait assignment rather than face the ups and downs of this project. I guess what it boils down to is personal work is for you and your subjects there’s nobody getting in-between that. No editors, no newsroom politics, nothing. It’s just you and your work and when you are your toughest critic that can be a hard thing to live with.

There’s still a ton of work left to do with this project, but for now though I’m looking forward to spending a few days relaxing and letting my mind wander.