'The Sweat Box' - a short picture story.

Digimonkey

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These photographs are of people in prison transport vehicles - the name of the thread is slang for the small cubicles they are locked into during transit. This might be being taken from remand to court for proceedings or between-prison transfers. I have taken the decision not to use any pictures where the prisoners are identifiable as I don't think this would be ethical. I actually have no idea who most of them are - and I have no idea as to the outcome of their situation. They could have been cleared of charges by a jury or had the case against them dropped. So - no faces. I find these pictures strangely beautiful.

SR-Van12.jpg

I'm sure you will have seen the situation on television - this is the working environment when trying to get this sort of picture. All the images following are fails from a professional - and money making - point of view. Just to set the scene. Taking pictures through the windows of moving vehicles - be they prison vans or cars - fall into the category of the 'Dark Arts' of being a news snapper. No two of us have the same technique. It seems random and arbitrary when you get a money-maker, you can get a result one day - worthy of a front page - and then the next day nothing. Same technique, same cameras and the same light - totally different outcomes. For me - it's about shutting down the ambient light, getting a very wide lens as close to the glass as possible and lighting it up like a Christmas tree. I'm not going to give away all my secrets though. Oh - High Court Glasgow, I'm one of the monkeys on the left.

SR-Van10.jpg

SR-Van9.jpg

SR-Van11.jpg

The prisoners - fairly obviously, can see you - you get an interesting range of responses -

SR-Van4.jpg


Finally - We can't get this sort of picture anymore - the contract for the prison transport changed a couple of years ago and they use different vans. Most importantly they have double layered windows with a reflective coating facing out. You can't get flash through it - believe me we have tried.

To end with my favourite image of this series - it might initially seem so - but those aren't her fingers.

SR-Van5.jpg

Thank you for looking. Yours - I.

I'll tag people that liked the original van picture. @Helveticum @Barry Giddens @Wayne Pritchard @Blademonkey @AnthH @udrako @William Dobson
 
These photographs are of people in prison transport vehicles - the name of the thread is slang for the small cubicles they are locked into during transit. This might be being taken from remand to court for proceedings or between-prison transfers. I have taken the decision not to use any pictures where the prisoners are identifiable as I don't think this would be ethical. I actually have no idea who most of them are - and I have no idea as to the outcome of their situation. They could have been cleared of charges by a jury or had the case against them dropped. So - no faces. I find these pictures strangely beautiful.

View attachment 27323

I'm sure you will have seen the situation on television - this is the working environment when trying to get this sort of picture. All the images following are fails from a professional - and money making - point of view. Just to set the scene. Taking pictures through the windows of moving vehicles - be they prison vans or cars - fall into the category of the 'Dark Arts' of being a news snapper. No two of us have the same technique. It seems random and arbitrary when you get a money-maker, you can get a result one day - worthy of a front page - and then the next day nothing. Same technique, same cameras and the same light - totally different outcomes. For me - it's about shutting down the ambient light, getting a very wide lens as close to the glass as possible and lighting it up like a Christmas tree. I'm not going to give away all my secrets though. Oh - High Court Glasgow, I'm one of the monkeys on the left.

View attachment 27324

View attachment 27325

View attachment 27326

The prisoners - fairly obviously, can see you - you get an interesting range of responses -

View attachment 27327


Finally - We can't get this sort of picture anymore - the contract for the prison transport changed a couple of years ago and they use different vans. Most importantly they have double layered windows with a reflective coating facing out. You can't get flash through it - believe me we have tried.

To end with my favourite image of this series - it might initially seem so - but those aren't her fingers.

View attachment 27328

Thank you for looking. Yours - I.

I'll tag people that liked the original van picture. @Helveticum @Barry Giddens @Wayne Pritchard @Blademonkey @AnthH @udrako @William Dobson
nice write up mate gives us an insight into some of your work I like the picture with the geezer giving you the finger the best lol :)
 
These photographs are of people in prison transport vehicles - the name of the thread is slang for the small cubicles they are locked into during transit. This might be being taken from remand to court for proceedings or between-prison transfers. I have taken the decision not to use any pictures where the prisoners are identifiable as I don't think this would be ethical. I actually have no idea who most of them are - and I have no idea as to the outcome of their situation. They could have been cleared of charges by a jury or had the case against them dropped. So - no faces. I find these pictures strangely beautiful.

View attachment 27323

I'm sure you will have seen the situation on television - this is the working environment when trying to get this sort of picture. All the images following are fails from a professional - and money making - point of view. Just to set the scene. Taking pictures through the windows of moving vehicles - be they prison vans or cars - fall into the category of the 'Dark Arts' of being a news snapper. No two of us have the same technique. It seems random and arbitrary when you get a money-maker, you can get a result one day - worthy of a front page - and then the next day nothing. Same technique, same cameras and the same light - totally different outcomes. For me - it's about shutting down the ambient light, getting a very wide lens as close to the glass as possible and lighting it up like a Christmas tree. I'm not going to give away all my secrets though. Oh - High Court Glasgow, I'm one of the monkeys on the left.

View attachment 27324

View attachment 27325

View attachment 27326

The prisoners - fairly obviously, can see you - you get an interesting range of responses -

View attachment 27327


Finally - We can't get this sort of picture anymore - the contract for the prison transport changed a couple of years ago and they use different vans. Most importantly they have double layered windows with a reflective coating facing out. You can't get flash through it - believe me we have tried.

To end with my favourite image of this series - it might initially seem so - but those aren't her fingers.

View attachment 27328

Thank you for looking. Yours - I.

I'll tag people that liked the original van picture. @Helveticum @Barry Giddens @Wayne Pritchard @Blademonkey @AnthH @udrako @William Dobson
Fantastic insight Iain. Thank you
 
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