A Youth Detention Center For Boys, Northern Russia

• Prize
  Bronze in People/Children
• Photographer
  Polina Soyref
• Technical Info
  All Captured On Medium Format Film. Camera: Mamiya 6. Films: Kodak Vision 250d, Kodak Portra 400
• Photo Date
  July 2024

This youth detention center currently hosts around 70 inmates aged 14-18: most of them are sentenced for drug-related offenses, a few have committed robberies, car thefts, rape or murder. Here boys go to school and to vocational college (both are on-site). They have access to sports, musical instruments, a library, and a theater studio. Volunteers often visit to help the boys socialize. Many of them committed their crimes for money or because of peer pressure. Most came from small cities and dysfunctional families. Most express remorse and say they don’t want to be in prison again.

Polina Soyref is a photographer, born in Russia and currently living and working there. In her pictures, she explores the relationship between people and their experiences, the environment, time, and memory. She works mostly with film and combines documentary and fine art photography. She also works in the field of social journalism.