Good documentary photography is a mixed blessing. Yes, it enlightens, it inspires, but for much of the time, it shows the vast majority of us how lucky we are and what tough lives some of us live. This is particularly true for the work of Jim Mortram.

I've always been drawn to documentary photography and photojournalism. Of late, I've become increasingly interested and have spent time researching photographers online. Somehow this brought me to Jim's website: Small Town Inertia. Not long ago, I would have known where I discovered Jim because I could have only read it in either a book or a magazine. Now with the myriad of websites, blogs, tweets etc., we consume each day, I have no idea, but I'm glad that it did.

A PRISON WITHOUT WALLS on YouTube.

Si shares, in his own words, his ADHD, his experiences of life confined by parameters and self-medication, and his endurance, fears and dreams whilst living on the fringe. ‘A prison without walls' was one of a selection of short documentary films commissioned by The New British and screened Friday, 27th of September, 2013, at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London, United Kingdom.

Small Town Inertia is a series of stories from Mortram’s hometown in the east of England. I don't know exactly where because, as far as I can see, Jim doesn't say. It doesn't matter; these stories or something like them is repeated in every village, town and city across the country. They speak of hard times, misfortune, hope and disappointment. They speak of misery and joy, but most of all, they tell how f**king tough getting through the day can be for some.

These stories are important. We shouldn't shy away from them because they're not about us, our family or our friends. This is the world we live in, I don't know if it's possible to change it, but it makes me feel we shouldn’t stop trying.

Jim Mortram, Small Town Inertia