While we were in Porto, Kathy & I couldn’t pass up a chance to visit the Portuguese Center of Photography. The Center is located in a former prison and court complex that dates to the late 1700s. After 200 years of use, the building fell into disrepair but was ultimately restored in a project begun in 2000, repurposing the structure as an exhibition hall. So not only are the contents interesting, but the building itself is photographically appealing.

At the time of our visit, the exhibitions included a display of student work from School of Media Arts and Design of the Polytechnic of Porto, a collection of photographic equipment from Antonio Pedro Vicente (link to the inventory) and an exhibit of work by British filmmaker Humphry Trevelyan from the 1975 Carnation Revolution.

Also around the museum were exhibits documenting the building’s role as a prison and court, including the early use of photography in documenting prisoners. Early “mug shots” of sorts, stripping the prisoners of identifiable signs, forcing them to stare at the camera with a frightened or defying look in order to suggest guilt.

It was a fascinating place to visit and to photograph, and a highlight of our time in Porto.