© Robert Gumpert
I’ve talked recently about photographers Bob Gumpert and Deborah Luster. A couple of months ago, upon my recommendation, Bob actually bought Luster’s monograph One Big Self.
The next day he emailed me to say that one of Luster’s sitters from Transylvania, Louisiana in May of 2001, he had photographed in San Francisco County Jail in February of 2009. Bob interviewed the man yesterday and posted the audio.
This is the first instance I’ve come across in which two independent photographers have photographed the same prisoner. I don’t know if it is significant or not?…
Page from Deborah Luster's 'One Big Self'
Prison Photography 
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February 22, 2011 at 4:24 pm
duckrabbit
But Pete …. it gets weirder.
Last week you spoke at Coventry Uni and talked about this picture.
I spoke this week and talked about this picture without knowing you had done the same thing!
As I told the students,
‘that wanker Brook always gets there first’.
Here’s the question … how much did the audio play a part in your connection with this image?
February 22, 2011 at 4:36 pm
petebrook
It is the first audio clip that springs to mind when I think of Bob’s work. He’s so articulate and has clearly thought about his habit and drug culture.
In terms of teasing out negative stereotypes from students/viewers and then challenging them with the audio that was your skill as a speaker. I didn’t bring them that – I think because for me, I meet inmates/transgressors each week when I teach. It didn’t occur to me; I expect personality, nuance and alternative life-views. I teach them some stuff, but they teach me more.
February 23, 2011 at 4:32 am
Guest Lecture: Pete Brook – ‘Tattoos, scars and tears, Robert Gumpert’s work in San Francisco jails’ « PICBOD – A free and open undergraduate photography class
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