It inspired me, I’m studying photojournalism [sorry excuse this self indulgent stuff for a moment] and as part of my course we had to complete a video assignment. Initially my thoughts were that video had no place in photojournalism and it should be kept to people with different skill sets. After watching trapped I felt the opposite. I was infused with ideas and endless possibilities (and I don’t mean being a copy cat and heading to my nearest mental hospital… shooting fish in a russian is the probable bandwagon I’d be more likely to jump on!)

But when viewing trapped on burn, I got nothing. context felt lost, the images didn’t have the same power and knowing it’s original medium, it felt short and completely unfinished. To put it simply, it had in no way the same impact as the original multimedia piece.

These criticisms however aren’t as much directed towards jenn’s work, but more the platform this grant is operating on.

“ok, how about this: from now on under the photographs presented, either single or essays, everyone gets one comment..one shot at it…to be directed ONLY at the work presented….all others deleted…that is moderating , but self moderating…

for those who want to chit chat, wrangle, tell us it is their birthday, they can do that in Dialogue…not moderated except for trolls with expletives etc. which is already a rule…..make sense?”

Actually suggested this several weeks ago — and not just to keep Jim from being beaten up — but to focus on the essay.

At that time, you didn’t believe that many of the comments were not germane to the essays and nixed the idea. Good to see that you understand what the current comments section has become — one with more comments on the commentors than on the essay itself.

Allow me to premise my comments by saying that I have no background in photography, so I won’t attempt to address the technical characteristics of your piece. However, I am working on my PhD in clinical psychology and felt that you might welcome a different perspective.

At the suggestion of a friend, I viewed the series of images before reading your introduction. I think the piece is aptly named and the feeling of being trapped is clearly felt in most of the images. I have to say that I picked up on the jail context much more quickly than I picked up your attention to mental health. That said, I also recognize the difficulty of capturing poor mental health via visual media without coming across as unoriginal or insensitive. Kudos to you for avoiding both of those pitfalls.

My strongest critique is that, as a photographic civilian, I was distracted from the impact of some of the images by trying to figure out what was going on in the picture. I realize that abstract visual media can sometimes have a greater emotional impact than a corresponding concrete image. Given the resonant themes of isolation and loss of control, I imagine those images were an attempt to put the viewer in the inmates’ shoes. However, in this piece, the unfocused, abstract images felt like a jarring transition from the crispness of your other images and pulled me out of the piece instead of pulling my farther in.

Thank you for your careful attention to this topic. Best of luck on your journey.

There are some moving images in this story, but for me they seem isolated amongst the rest . Jenn is a great photographer, of that there is no doubt, but if she set out to produce a “riveting body of work that made the viewer feel what I felt when I was inside the prison.” Then I think she failed in my opinion.

I’m full of admiration for her in getting access to this institution and getting images of any sort.

What I’d like to know is will the publication of this essay change the mental health funding situation in any way? Will the essay help to bring about change?

Maybe it’s where people should be given the one (e-mail) only rule?

Seriously, people should know better and not make constant demands on your time, unless instigated by you.

no, sorry…i havent been looking every day, so i didnt know how long Jenn’s work has been up….seemed like a long time, i imagine an indication of the thread of words. i wont suggest again.