From the beginning, in her life and her work, Miranda Barnes has focused on social justice. “My mother is a social worker,” Barnes shares. “I was raised around women, and from a young age, I understood the importance of being empathetic.”

Her storytelling, which seeks to reframe and reassert narratives of Black life, offers a moving vision that is both arresting and unforgettable. In many ways, Barnes’ photography is a mirror to America’s current reckoning. From the prison system, to violence against marginalised communities, her photographs validate the lives of people she encounters – something the ­system continually fails to do.