Stephen Tourlentes' Photos Capture American Prisons at Night-time
Rahul Kalvapalle — May 16, 2014 — World
References: tourlentes & featureshoot
Massachusetts-based photographer Stephen Tourlentes' photo series 'Of Length and Measures' is a unique series that depicts American prisons at night-time. Tourlentes became intrigued by prison complexes after stumbling upon a newly-built prison on the outskirts of his hometown in Illinois. Tourlentes was fascinated by how the prison landscape concealed "an unseen human cargo" hidden to regular folk.
The scene inspired Stephen Tourlentes to travel across the country, photographing prisons at night and discovering some disturbing statistic along the way. For example, the number of prisons in the US has quadrupled since the 1980s and the US holds 24% of the world's prison population despite having less than 5% of the world's population.
Tourlentes' photos focus on prisons far removed from cities, so as to bring them back into the public consciousness and and explore the reasons behind the drastic increase in the number of prisons to figure out if they are a product of necessity or paranoia.
The scene inspired Stephen Tourlentes to travel across the country, photographing prisons at night and discovering some disturbing statistic along the way. For example, the number of prisons in the US has quadrupled since the 1980s and the US holds 24% of the world's prison population despite having less than 5% of the world's population.
Tourlentes' photos focus on prisons far removed from cities, so as to bring them back into the public consciousness and and explore the reasons behind the drastic increase in the number of prisons to figure out if they are a product of necessity or paranoia.
Trend Themes
1. Prison Photography - There is potential to disrupt the traditional ways in which prisons are seen with photography and potentially change public perception of the US prison system.
2. Prison Reform Advocacy - Increased attention on the US prison system could lead to the opportunity for advocacy and activism to promote positive change.
3. Prison Data Analysis - The growing prison population in the US could present an opportunity for data analysis in an attempt to identify new theories and solutions.
Industry Implications
1. Photography - There is potential for photographers to leverage their skills to bring attention and spark conversation around social issues.
2. Criminal Justice - This series could promote discussion and change in the criminal justice industry regarding prison reform and the reduction of mass incarceration.
3. Data Analytics - Industry professionals in data analytics could provide new data-driven solutions that could lead to a reformative shift in the industry.
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