London photographer James Reynolds has documented the final meals of former death row inmates. The prison trays are replicas of those used in maximum security prisons.
"I saw a small list of what a few death row prisoners had chosen for their last meals before their deaths and I wondered what they would look like as a visual image. After all, these meals would be one of the last things these prisoners see before they die.
At first I just wanted to see what these meals looked like on the iconic prison tray. I wanted to get the viewer to think, or have an opinion.
I’d like to think that the photographs make the viewer think, what thought that is, I am not sure, as I myself had more thoughts the more I looked at them.
What would my last meal be? What kind of people were these prisoners? Why did they choose that particular meal? What crime did they commit?"
I’d like to think that the photographs make the viewer think, what thought that is, I am not sure, as I myself had more thoughts the more I looked at them.
What would my last meal be? What kind of people were these prisoners? Why did they choose that particular meal? What crime did they commit?"
"The single olive still had its stone. The inmate thought that after being executed and buried, an olive tree—a symbol of peace—would grow from him. It was indeed a very profound thought or idea, but an olive tree has not yet been found on his grave."
- James Reynolds
Final meals are generally limited to food that can be prepared on-site.
When an inmate requests filet mignon—which happens a lot—the chef will instead cook up a steak hamburger, since that's what they already have in the kitchen.
When a Texas inmate requested 24 tacos, the chef made four. In Florida, last meals must be purchased locally and can't cost more than $40. Alcohol is almost never allowed. For my last meal I'd have a massive Sunday roast chicken with loads of gravy and Yorkshire puddings and stuffing. And a nice ol tub of soy sauce mixed with chilli oil and vinegar for me to drink. Oh and one last final session on the internet/facebook/tumblr/blogspot etc etc.
(Could take days.)
When an inmate requests filet mignon—which happens a lot—the chef will instead cook up a steak hamburger, since that's what they already have in the kitchen.
When a Texas inmate requested 24 tacos, the chef made four. In Florida, last meals must be purchased locally and can't cost more than $40. Alcohol is almost never allowed. For my last meal I'd have a massive Sunday roast chicken with loads of gravy and Yorkshire puddings and stuffing. And a nice ol tub of soy sauce mixed with chilli oil and vinegar for me to drink. Oh and one last final session on the internet/facebook/tumblr/blogspot etc etc.
(Could take days.)
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