In a series of images released by the Institute for the Study of Tolitarian Regimes in their publication entitled Prague Through the Lens of Secret Police, it seems as though Soviet-era Czechoslovakian secret police inadvertently contributed to the realm of street photography in an effort to crack down on crime.
The incognito group of law enforcement spied on average citizens on the daily, all in hopes of catching mischievous criminals in illegal acts that would be sure to lead them to their prosecution. When doing this, they hid their cameras in their suitcases and coats, all while being completely unaware of what exactly their cameras were shooting.
Because of their lack of knowledge concerning what their devices were capturing, many negatives resulted in blurred or awkwardly angled frames. Nonetheless, the unintentional results are artistic yet extremely original snapshots that serve as early pavers to the beloved art form of street photography.
Take a look:
Via: PopPhoto | Images Credit: Institute for the Study of Tolitarian Regimes
