Using Photovoice with Ex-prisoners: An Exemplar

Abstract

This chapter is drawn from the author's Photovoice research project, Radically Rethinking Imprisonment, conducted with 12 former prisoners in South Australia. It demonstrates the breadth and depth of the images and narratives created by participants, showing how they took charge of the direction of the research, despite it being a researcher initiated project. Placed at its heart is the quality and significance of the `data' through powerful imagery created by the participants. As active subjects, rather than passive objects of research, participants provided a considered account of their experiences as they produced new knowledge. Their data, in the form of photographs and accompanying narratives are profoundly personal while at the same time reflect common, shared experiences. The chapter concludes with a discussion about the transformative effect that participatory action research can have for researchers as well as participants.