DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY DAILY

Exercising Photographic Muscles

Photography is like any other skill, it needs to be exercised in order to stay in shape. Personally, I spend a lot of time writing, and sometimes I forget that I’m a photographer first, and force myself out in the field to practice my art. Its called exercising your photographic muscles.

I’m concurrently adding chosen images to a number of portfolios at any one time, but there is usually a project or two that takes precedence. Case in point, currently I’m working on a book of images from my urban color portfolio. Not even half way there, I still have to shoot images for a time frame that only will be determined by how long it takes for me to have about 120 images worthy of publishing in a photography book. and accompanied website. I have been adding to my “urban color” portfolio off and on for a few years, driving into the city for photography of abandoned structures.

There are plenty of abandoned structures  in my city, Detroit.  In some areas, building and home vacancies amount in the 60% range, obviously the highest in the U.S., and one of the worse off cities when it comes to blight in the western world. The decay has been happening for years now. Starting in the 1960’s, the area has been decaying exponentially as southeast Michigan has become more and more segregated (the Detroit area is the most segregated metro area in the country),  corrupt Mayoral, City Council  and school board administrations robbing and preying on their constituents, and of course as the domestic auto industry decline to brink of death.  The result is an almost post-apocalyptic area that is difficult to describe, but easier to explain with the aid of photography. You have to see whats happened to this once vibrant area to believe it.

My project will be completed later this year, and as the weather improves, my shooting will increase. The project isn’t about making a social commentary actually. I’m a nature photographer most of the time, however watching decay happen before my own eyes, in the city I’ve lived my entire life can’t be ignored.  The images are there, and I have to take them. I’m a photographer, and this city needs to be photographed and displayed for all to discover.

My process is simple. Wait for good lighting, then get in the car and go. I really don’t plan what parts of the city I’m going to visit ahead of time. Instead, I visit regions within the city, and let the photographic opportunities come to me. There isn’t a shortage of compositions when your taking photographs of burned out homes, abandoned homes, abandoned factories, shuttered storefronts, abandoned schools, train stations and other buildings.

I often get asked about my own personal safety, but to this day I’ve never had any problems. I’ve been going to the city every since I was a young kid and have been through every neighborhood and part of the city over the years. I’ve been to places that I wouldn’t allow other friends or family members to visit, while other areas are not as bad.  It is surprising though of the volume of vacant land there is. The city government has been fighting a losing battle of demolishing vacant buildings for years.  Every year, the city gets further and further behind in its efforts.  For instance,   the old headquarters for Packard Motors, who hasn’t built a car since the late 50’s, still stands. Great photographic opportunity, unsafe to enter though. I’ve photographed the complex a few times.

Working on the project is all about my photography and exercising that “muscle” of my life.  It needs to be worked daily, even during the dull gray days of winter in a rustbelt city.  Photography isn’t just a spring, summer and autumn sport you know…

Related posts:

1. Oscar Rivera Photographs New York City
2. The Clouds 365 Project
3. Improve Your Photography Available in Print
4. Blur as an Element of Composition

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