Prisons are instituting job development programs hoping some hands-on training will help ex-cons land a job when they're released.
But these training programs rarely include creative art, which is a shame considering a criminal's unique perspective, so prisoners who want to learn art skills have to educate themselves by reading books.
Photographer Donato Di Camillo grew up on the mean streets of 70s and 80s New York, saw his "first friend die at the age of nine, right by my feet" and ultimately wound up going to prison on Federal charges in 2006.
Donato wanted to learn photography so bad he studied hard while awaiting his release, and when he got out in 2012 he continued his photographic studies, feeling street photography was "something that I felt I needed to do".
Now Donato is free to fully embrace his passion for street photography, posting his pics on his Tumblr and Instagram accounts, and his raw and powerful portraits are some of the best I've seen for quite some time.
All photos ©Donato Di Camillo
See The Beautiful Story of One Man Who Taught Himself Photography In Prison here