“I didn’t really want to end our friendship, I was their link to the outside world. So I taught them some photography.” - Tracey Derrick Tracey Derrick ran an eight week programme, teaching the women at Malmesbury Prison to use a basic 35 mm camera.
None of them had had any prior experience and these are the photographs that they produced. They are unique images of their world inside prison, shown to us on the outside.
Hopes To Re-Enter Society
Their daily lives in prison were uneventful and no rehabilitation programmes were being offered to them. “I decided to add an educational component to my project and teach them some photography.
I wanted to share my skills and empower them to become more independent once they re-entered society.” The exhibition was very important as it was an affirmation of their time spent with Tracey and the cameras.
As individuals they had their own photographs on display for people to see and admire, reinforcing themselves, acknowledging them. Hopefully as individuals, once they re-enter society, they will remember what they produced and feel strong and firm about decisions they will make about their future lifestyle.