Johnny R. Collins, Angola, Louisiana 19 - 1999

"Johnny R. Collins, Angola, Louisiana" is a 1999 photograph by Deborah Luster that captures the solemn gaze of a man named Johnny. The image focuses on Johnny's upper body, revealing a tattoo on his arm that reads, "Love is Hell," adding a layer of poignancy to the portrait. This photograph, part of Luster's series "One Big Self," explores the lives and stories of individuals incarcerated at Angola Prison in Louisiana. The image's intimate scale and the directness of Johnny's gaze invite viewers to consider the complexities of human experience, particularly in the context of confinement.