Prisons

[Shadowman]

Subject ventured off into prisons on this thread Sunrise
and was recently viewing some images of a prison in Denmark by photographer Jens Juul in Black & White magazine, August 2014. Has anyone ever done a shoot inside a prison?

http://jensjuul.com/?page_id=115

[Donald]

Fascinating series.

I'd be amazed if the prison authorities in this country would allow any such access to do a shoot like this.

[Shadowman]

Fascinating series.

I'd be amazed if the prison authorities in this country would allow any such access to do a shoot like this.

I know of one prison in the U.S. (the Angolite at Angola State Prison) that has its own magazine and the inmates are the photographers, I've never seen any outsider having this type of access and I'm sure the guards are forbidden from taking photos for profit or hobby.

[PaulRJennings]

I took some pics inside kingston pen last October. It was just closed.


https://flickr.com/photos/38787467@N...57636133644443

[deetheturk]

Guilty! of venturing off your other thread sorry bud Some great photography in this one John!

[Shadowman]

Guilty! of venturing off your other thread sorry bud Some great photography in this one John!

David,

Not a problem, see how it led to another interesting topic.

[flashback]

How about a jail house?
In 1930 the Federal Government created the Works Progress Administration, which housed single, older transient males. Due to the influx of transients local communities/governments would no longer take transients on the welfare roll. So the WPA built camps and housed the transients, who worked clearing trails, cut firewood and other duties in exchange for housing, food and a pittance of a salary. Where this jail is located, there were barracks that held up to 300 men. Local historians state that, upon receiving their 'wages' some men would wander into town and spend their money at the local pub, which in turn let to disturbances, fights and other issues, hence the jail. The jail and camp was shut down in 1936 and has been a part of local lore ever since, with some mistaken belief that the jail dated back to Revolutionary times. The jail was recently repaired, given a new roof and, if one looks closely, rebar (concrete reinforcing bar) has been used to replace the original window bars. And, of course local (or more likely, not local) youth have tagged it with spray paint.
One other note; when this camp was active likely any trees in the area were cut down, as much of the state (as well as the entire northeast) had been deforested up until the mid to late 1800's. The trees present today are not much older than 80 years.

[Shadowman]

How about a jail house?
In 1930 the Federal Government created the Works Progress Administration, which housed single, older transient males. Due to the influx of transients local communities/governments would no longer take transients on the welfare roll. So the WPA built camps and housed the transients, who worked clearing trails, cut firewood and other duties in exchange for housing, food and a pittance of a salary. Where this jail is located, there were barracks that held up to 300 men. Local historians state that, upon receiving their 'wages' some men would wander into town and spend their money at the local pub, which in turn let to disturbances, fights and other issues, hence the jail. The jail and camp was shut down in 1936 and has been a part of local lore ever since, with some mistaken belief that the jail dated back to Revolutionary times. The jail was recently repaired, given a new roof and, if one looks closely, rebar (concrete reinforcing bar) has been used to replace the original window bars. And, of course local (or more likely, not local) youth have tagged it with spray paint.
One other note; when this camp was active likely any trees in the area were cut down, as much of the state (as well as the entire northeast) had been deforested up until the mid to late 1800's. The trees present today are not much older than 80 years.

Nicely captured, where is this structure located?

[flashback]

It's in western Connecticut.

[Shadowman]

In another thread the topic of language was discussed. I always liked the term "gaols" when reading about penal systems; especially Australia's.

[deetheturk]

Yes John your right, it's amazing how on here it can do that, long may it continue

[Shadowman]

I took some pics inside kingston pen last October. It was just closed.


https://flickr.com/photos/38787467@N...57636133644443

Nice images, only thing is an empty prison loses some of the atmosphere when it's empty and well kept. But an empty prison or asylum counts.

[PaulRJennings]

Yeah I know what you mean. But better I was able to get those shots and leave than take them and go back to my cell

[KCBrecks]

I worked on a contract inside a high security wing of one of the highest category prisons in the UK some years ago. There is no way we were allowed to take anything like a camera in with us and certainly not allowed any photographs. I have also surveyed a few secure hospitals and there is no way I would have taken pictures of any of the poor souls in those.

There is of course the well known note on a survey drawing of a prison -

These walls were not built to scale.