Prison Chess Portrait #14. Oliver Fluck
Oliver Fluck’s series of Prisoner Chess Portraits is an interesting counterpoint to other prisoner portraiture. It is unfussy, neutral, quiet. Fluck is experimenting with the figure and I would like to see him in the future settle with a preferred vantage point in relation to his sitter. For example, I like the portraits of the Prison Chess Champ and of Christopher Serrone. Fluck is headed in the right direction.
Prison Chess Portrait #14 (above) is a very strong shot also taking advantage of particularly high contrast light conditions.
Is photographing stationary silent chess-playing sitters simple or difficult? On the one hand, the sitter is still for you, but on the other, it’s difficult to spark rapport with a man concentrating on the game.
Text with Image
An integral part of the project is Fluck’s drafted questionnaire which secured answers to standard questions from as many competitors as possible.
Inmate quotes such as, “Having been incarcerated since age 15 and never getting out, it is helpful and healthy to know that not all of society lacks interest or willingness to become productively involved” keep reality checked. As do sobering statistics such as 50+ years or 66-year prison-terms.
J. Zhu. Oliver Fluck
Christopher Serrone. Oliver Fluck
Prison Chess Champ. Oliver Fluck
Q&A with Oliver Fluck
How and why you came to this topic?
I enjoy playing chess, which is why I’m in touch with the local university chess club here in Princeton. The students got the opportunity to play against inmates of a maximum security prison, and when I heard about it, I proposed to photograph the event and volunteer as a driver for the students.
What are your hopes for the project as a whole?
Very frankly, from a photographer’s point of view, I would like to see it exhibited, and provoke some thought.
What is your message with the portraits?
I can talk about one thing that I am not trying to do: I’m not trying to propagate any kind of standpoint about how one should deal with criminals, and whether or not they should have the right to enjoy chess. I’m like most other viewers, I stumbled upon this project and got curious … Curious on an unprejudiced level from human to human. Start from there if you are looking for a message.
Anything else that you’d like to add and feel is important.
I would like to thank John Marshall for this experience, and David Wang for constructive feedback regarding the prisoner questionnaire.
Competitor with Unknown Name. Oliver Fluck
Prison Chess Portrait #4. Oliver Fluck
Prison Chess Portrait # 21. Oliver Fluck
Original Links to portraits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.
Oliver Fluck’s Flickr
Watch this youtube clip of a local news report from the prison during the tournament.
Prison Photography 
18 comments
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June 20, 2009 at 2:45 pm
allisanderia
I enjoyed your post on Prison Chess. My husband was a prison guard for a short period of time in Winnfield, Louisiana, and talks frequently about the prisoners playing chess. My husband is a tournament chess player and learned a lot watching the prisoners. I do agree that I think this is a subject that should be seen and provoke thought.
September 1, 2009 at 5:08 am
Bruce H
Forgive my impertinence, but might I suggest that you send a photo album to the prison library?
This is really good stuff. I think the prisoners would get a lot out of such a gift.
October 19, 2009 at 7:09 pm
Ryan
Very interesting series. Nice use of Black and White as well.
October 20, 2009 at 11:29 am
petebrook
Bruce. I contacted Oliver and he said he shares his work with the inmates. He hasn’t produced a book yet, but I am sure when he does, the prison library will be on his list!
May 4, 2010 at 11:20 pm
a.q.s.
Of possible interest: http://annieqsyed.com/2010/05/prisoners-of-life/
November 22, 2010 at 5:33 pm
Judith Ann Haney
Chris Serrone has been incarcerated since the age of 15 years old. at his trial the recommendation was put forth that he was a candidate for rehabilation at Yardville New Jersey. I believe the Trial Judge pandered to the County and to the community who were thirsty foe revenge over the quest for justice. The Trial Judge sentenced Chris to 55 years in prison. We cannot allow anymore chris”s to slip thru the cracks, and must hold those in authority accountable. 55 years at aprx 30,000 a year, you do the math. Incidently the family involved was prominent.
April 10, 2011 at 6:29 pm
sam
Christopher Serrone murdered my 9 year old friend and her father in cold blood.
I’m just wondering, what does a family’s income level have to do with keeping murderers off the street?
April 10, 2011 at 7:08 pm
petebrook
Sam. I am sorry, I don’t know what you’re asking, or more specifically what you’re referencing. I didn’t mention income in the article. Could you rephrase your question?
I will say that the criminal justice system impacts the poorest of society, in terms of both perpetrators and victims.
April 10, 2011 at 8:41 pm
Judyann Haney
Dear Sam,
I would like you to know who Chris Serrone is today.
Chris accepted Jesus Christ as his Lord and Saviour September 2009.
He is emeshed in the thriving Christian community, at his current facility.
He is the person that God always intended Him to be. God has forgiven Chris. And every day God blesses Chris with new opportunities to grow and learn.
Maybe it is Flemingtions intention for chris to die miserable and in prison! It is not Gods intention. It may be a long time before Chris leaves a facility, but he will leave alive, healthy, forgiven, and healed.
Any animosity or unforgiveness the community is nursing today, cannot be blamed on Chris. The community has had 31 years to choose a path of forgiveness, healing, and restoration.
It is possible to have your liberties and physical freedom, and yet still be in an invisible prison. In the bondage of pain and unforgiveness.
I will say this, briefly. The Prosecution wittness wasnt being truthful on the stand, and the prosc. was instructed by the trial judge to “take it easy” on the wittness.
I have been praying for the bondage to be lifted from Flemingtion for 31 years and I will keep praying until it is lifted.
April 10, 2011 at 9:43 pm
Judyann Haney
Dear Sam,
I am stepping out in faith to ask you what I am going to ask you.
Would you feel comfortable expressing your heart to Chris stright directly.
Your in pain and you deserve the opportunity to unbondage your heart.
This is my Email, demolady53@hotmail.com What if God is opening a door.
April 10, 2011 at 10:04 pm
Judyann Haney
Dear Sam,
I would welcome you to find me on facebook.
April 11, 2011 at 5:20 am
sam
I was referring to Judith Haney’s comment
April 11, 2011 at 9:21 am
petebrook
@ Sam. Ah, okay that makes sense.
April 11, 2011 at 9:31 am
petebrook
@Judith. By publishing your comments here I do not endorse the canvassing of other readers with personal religious beliefs. Your beliefs, however, are somewhat relevant to this discussion as you seem to have personal knowledge of Christophers Serrone’s circumstances. Your beliefs may not have any relevance to Sam though.
Also note, Sam’s brief comment didn’t not suggest anger or another perceived need for outside intervention. It was a question about logic.
Forgiveness and healing are not under the monopoly of religion.
So, while I’d be a bit put off by your introduction of God into the conversation, that’s my personal reaction, and of course you are not addressing me.
I am comfortable being an atheist, but I am not comfortable being a censor, hence why your comments appear here.
(This explanation is for my other readers as much as it is for you both.)
April 14, 2011 at 5:17 pm
Judith Haney
Dear Pete Brook, Thank you for seeing the context. Oliver Fluck does powerful work. I like how he says, the phrase “human to human”. Thank you for recognizing one of the cornerstone of our constitution. I have a few friends who are free thinkers who feel the exact same way, and they are keen if they see someones first amend. trounced on. I will tell you this, a genuine Christian represents God in the context of the moment. Be wary of someone who doesn’t. I tend to be wary of hypocrites. Thank you again, Sincerely Judith Haney.
November 28, 2011 at 5:36 pm
judyann haney
Christopher Srrrone was convicted of Murder, in s community that had one year before had already decided, and judged him as guilty. Does the community of Flemingtion know that in the 90s, the D.A. had another person of interest for the Crime that Chris was convicted of. So much, they went to his facility to meet with him. Flemingtion let the opportunity for legitimate justice, slip through they’re fingers.
December 9, 2013 at 1:57 pm
Marie Derr
My name is Marie. I dated Chris , and Thank God broke up with him 1 month before the murders. It was in fact he who comitted the awful crime. BUT– drugs influence your judgement in ways people cannot understand. He was on acid, and was having relationship problems with his father, who was a preacher. Every day he came to see me, he was not himself. Blank stares,and when you looked into his eyes there was nothing there. He had lost his soul to drugs. I believe he has served enough time, tho the crime was horrendous. He has found his way through his Higher Power, and hopefully can get into a facility where he isnt surrounded by other criminals anymore. He wont remember me, but tell Chris I think about him.
February 27, 2014 at 9:24 pm
SAM
Marie, Thanks for setting that straight. Loonies like Haney that meet criminals later in life, guys like Serrone that have “found God” and convince themselves that it couldn’t have been him, it must have been someone else, literally make me sick.
Jackie was nine. He slit her throat. She died alone.
When her father, Jack, came home, Serrone murdered him in cold blood as well.
There was never ANY doubt Serrone committed the crime. They found him with blood on his hands, drugged out. Justice was served.
What it did to the family, to her brother, to their friends lasted a lifetime. His punishment should as well.