reality check

"For me, photography has become a way of attempting to make sense of the very strange world that I see around me. I don't ever expect to achieve that understanding, but the fact that I am trying comforts me"

Mikhael Subotzky, photographer

check out Mikhael's hectic and very powerful photographs from prisons in the Western Cape, mostly from the high security prison Pollsmore HERE (hold the mouse over the little play icon under the pics to see details of each picture)

Araminta de Clermont has also had a recent photo exhibition of former South African prisoners - their 'tattoo-covered bodies reveal the story of life inside and its gang culture' - take three minutes to view the pictures and listen to this humbling slideshow BODY ART BEHIND WALLS

as my dear and very wise friend Anne, who shared Mikhael's photographies with me, said; these projects are highly important. prisones are portrayed as having 'good lives with tv's etc' inside the walls- the reality is quite contrasting and humiliating. do we remember to see beyond these peoples tattoos and their status/stigma as prisoners?

thank you anne and justin for sharing!

now the rain is drumming on my roof - after a very humid day with 35 degrees the pressure is releasing... maybe my soul will also lighten as the rain clears the air...