The prison cell had always been a curious and interesting subject for many young photographers. Capturing the lives of inmates is something that many photojournalists would like to do. The question now – Is it illegal to take pictures of the prison from the inside?
I have searched google and found many interesting answers. And most of my reads say it’s illegal. But regardless of the legality of taking pictures within the walls of a prison, there are various professional photographs you can find over the internet. And if you are one of those eyeing to take pictures within the barren walls, you may want to seek advice from the authorities.
Are you looking for a particular inmate? Check out https://theinmatesearch.org/. This is an efficient tool that can help you locate your loved ones in prison.
“Children behind bars”
It’s interesting to know though that a photojournalist was able to gain access inside the penitentiary for mother and child. He is Munich photojournalist Erol Gurian. The sueddeutsche.de website has a feature of him entitled “Children behind bars”
He did it. After his first visit, he’s been there about half a dozen times over the past three years. Has passed the security gate and the many locked doors, wandered around, always accompanied by an officer. All of the women arrested agreed to be accompanied by the camera. The photographer was a welcome change in everyday prison life, also because the women rarely come into contact with men. “The visits were also a special form of attention for her,” says the social worker who heads the mother and child department. In a certain way, the women were proud to be able to present their children for this project.
The photos of the barren playground are also impressive
Gurian’s pictures not only show the relationships between mothers and children, but they also show what is developing among women. This is how he captured the moment when a prisoner received good news in the mail and a fellow prisoner was so happy with her that she pressed a kiss on her cheek. There are scenes from the common room where the women spend a lot of time, scenes of children who are just going for a walk with the teachers, and scenes of farewells when a woman is released.
The photos of the barren playground on the roof with the few square meters of lawn are also impressive – they could have been taken anywhere had it not been for the fine-meshed double steel safety net that is supposed to prevent money, news, or drugs from finding their way into prison. The women meet on the roof terrace to smoke, “the only luxury,” says Gurian.
Because the rooms in the prison are lit very differently, he decided to display his photos in black and white. “I had the feeling that it also helps to hold them together formally, to give them an aesthetic bracket.” He also took photos in the officers’ office. The wall is littered with photos of children sent by former prisoners. “We hear from those women who are doing well,” says the director. She is happy about the post. “But we tell you beforehand that there will be no answer.”
Women Behind Bars
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vQiR–NHJU