I received an email today from an inmate that was in the psychiatric unit at the time I photographed my project Trapped: Mental Illness in America’s Prisons. Often we forget that those we are photographing are honored to share their story. Here is the email: Dear Jenn, I was an inmate at the Kentucky State Reformatory in LaGrange, [...]
I was happy to receive an email in my inbox earlier this summer from the Magenta Flash Forward competition letting me know that I was chosen as an honorable mention for one of their 2010 Emerging Photographers for my Served Out: Aging and Dying Behind Bars project. There’s some great talent on the winners page [...]
By now I know well enough that you can’t put a lot of weight in contests, but we all know they’re good for keeping our name out there. I was happy to be included in the Communication Arts Photography Annual for my Served Out: Aging and Dying Behind Bars project. Communication Arts dedicated a full [...]
The New York Photo Awards released their list of nominees yesterday and I found myself on the list with a lot of talented folks including Jenn. The contest is also my slow departure from what I consider my traditional photojournalism roots. This has been the first year that I’ve primarily focused on contests that are [...]
Mr. Gibson was one of my favorite inmates from this past summer. Mr. Gibson was more than a subject he was and still is my friend. He’d be one of the first guys I’d go greet everyday I’d go to the prison. “Why hello there camera man.” or “Take my picture camera man,” were greetings [...]
TRAPPED will be screened in New York this weekend on Oct. 4 at the Reel Venus Film Festival at Anthology Film Archives, 32 2nd Avenue, NYC. Here is a little writeup on the film. There is a great lineup including The Sandwich Generation by Julie Winokur and Tata’s Angel by Brenda Kenneally & Laura Lo [...]
Monday I spoke at the National Security Conference to officers and wardens around the country about mental illness in prison and what it was like to film the project. It was a little intimidating as I was speaking to a room of experts but I am hoping I brought a different perspective. It was great [...]
Yesterday was the last day Tim and I spent in the prison and it was bittersweet. This summer was incredibly intense as we tried to spend as much time as we could there but I also enjoyed every day there. I am also going to miss the guys. I have to admit there are some [...]
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 [...]
I am finishing up my time in the prison. In fact I only have three days left and I am going to miss this place tremendously. I am going to miss the environment but mostly the guys I see everyday. I have been spending most of my time shooting video but always have my still [...]