A Photo A Day From Detroit...

[night-timer]

I wish to thank everyone who helped me identify the location of the [[now demolished) Connor Creek Power Plant in one of my photos.

I am currently in the process of placing my entire archive of photography onto my new website [[https://www.wallace-media.net/archive), which means I'm presently going through all of my Detroit pix.

I'd like to share these images with you. I don't have a lot of time to spend here on the forum, but a brief visit once a day should be manageable.

But I want to make it clear that I am not doing this to 'showcase' my images - I'm doing it to showcase your strangely fascinating City of Detroit...

It seems to me that the days of 'ruin porn' in Detroit are mostly gone [[except in the 'burbs) because Downtown Detroit got adopted by Dan Gilbert.

Anyway, here's my first shot... Gratiot Avenue [[at Mack Avenue), shot with a long lens...

I will include camera/lens data for those who are interested in image-making....

Thanks, night-timer, AKA Robert Wallace in Australia... some of you may have met me. I'll come back next summer...



Canon 1D Mark IV camera, Canon 800mm lens, polarizing filter, shot from the roadside [[on a tripod) on Gratiot opposite Marathon Gas.

[Lowell]

Thanks. Post more. Interesting who the street lights are compacted by that lens.

[night-timer]

The Fisher Body Plant # 21 in New Center... or is it in Milwaukee Junction, strictly speaking?

I never quite figured that out.

Either way, it's in the Piquette Avenue Industrial Historic District.

Canon 1Dx Mark II camera, Canon 17mm f/4 "T-SE" lens [[to keep the uprights properly vertical)...

[Zacha341]

Nice photos NT. Nothing like shooting photos with an 'actual' camera sometimes. Need to dust mine off!

[night-timer]

The demolition of Joe Louis Arena, seen from Steve Yzerman Drive.

[[Canon 1D Mk IV camera, Canon 14mm f2.8 wideangle lens.)

[night-timer]

The Dequindre Cut on a summer day...

[[Canon 1D Mk IV camera, Canon 300mm f/2.8 lens)

[night-timer]

The Ford 'Model T' Factory Museum on Beaubien Boulevard...

[[Canon 1d Mk IV camera, Canon 24mm f3.5 TS-E lens)

[Jimaz]

The Ford 'Model T' Factory Museum on Beaubien Boulevard

What's interesting about that one is how much more it looks {to me} like a painting rather than a photograph. But I can't quite figure out why. Maybe a uniformity of palette color?

Please continue!

[night-timer]

If you think it looks more like a painting than a photo, wait 'til you see my image of Antietam Avenue by night... I've gotta find it in my files. Talk soon.

[night-timer]

The Guardian Bank building at Burt and Fenkell in Brightmoor... does this place have any relation to the red-brick 'Guardian Building' skyscraper in Downtown Detroit?

[[Canon 1D Mk IV camera, Canon 24mm f/3.5 TS-E lens.)

[EastsideAl]

This building was designed by the major Detroit architect C. Howard Crane. It was used for many years as a branch library.

The Guardian Building downtown was built as the headquarters of the Guardian Detroit Union Group, whose holdings I believe included the Guardian Detroit Bank, of which this building was a branch. The whole thing went belly-up during the great depression when Henry Ford [[Ford Motor Co. was their largest depositor) refused to lend them the money to keep going, creating an enormous banking crisis in Michigan that soon spread nationwide. A bank holiday was quickly declared that kept every bank in Michigan closed for over a month and culminated in a week-long national bank holiday declared immediately after FDR took office.

[night-timer]

The Detroit Yacht Club, seen from the footbridge crossing a pond on Belle Isle...

[[Canon 1D Mk IV camera, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 lens.)

[night-timer]

Looking towards Foxtown and Midtown at sunset...

[[Canon 1D mk IV camera, Canon 70-200mm f2.8L IS II lens.)

[night-timer]

The GM headquarters and Renaissance Center, seen from the Chrysler Drive overpass above Jefferson Avenue...

[[Canon 1Dx Mk II camera, Canon 24-70mm f/2.8 II lens.)

[Cincinnati_Kid]

This building was designed by the major Detroit architect C. Howard Crane. It was used for many years as a branch library.

The Guardian Building downtown was built as the headquarters of the Guardian Detroit Union Group, whose holdings I believe included the Guardian Detroit Bank, of which this building was a branch. The whole thing went belly-up during the great depression when Henry Ford [[Ford Motor Co. was their largest depositor) refused to lend them the money to keep going, creating an enormous banking crisis in Michigan that soon spread nationwide. A bank holiday was quickly declared that kept every bank in Michigan closed for over a month and culminated in a week-long national bank holiday declared immediately after FDR took office.

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[Lowell]

Beautiful photography!

[night-timer]

Eastern Market and Gratiot Avenue seen from Downtown... I think the Packard Plant -- ? -- is visible in the distance, at the top right.

[[Canon 1D Mk IV camera, Canon 300mm f2.8 L IS lens.)

[night-timer]

The Detroit Harbor Terminal Building and Ambassador Bridge, seen from the Detroit River.

[[Canon 1Dx MK II camera, Canon 400mm f2.8L IS II lens.)

[night-timer]

Matthew Loflin Davis -- AKA 'Django' -- at the book signing and launch for his book 'Junky Chronicles' at Jumbo's Bar in Midtown...

I took this photo with my iPhone on July 25, 2014 on my first visit to Detroit...

Django was the guy who first showed me around The D and introduced me to many amazing aspects of the city. RIP Django.

[Zacha341]

Wow! That's when Jumbo's had their windows uncovered right. Nice photo.

[DetroitSoldier]

I haven't been to Jumbo's in a few years. I need to go back. It was my favorite place to drink for about a decade!

[night-timer]

The Detroit Yes website is telling me I can't upload any more photos due to my bandwidth limit being exceeded. I've emailed Lowell to ask for an increase in my limit.

I've got lots of photos and anecdotes from my times in Detroit with Django, John Gannon, Allan Hill in the Packard Plant, Sumas, etc.

[Zacha341]

^^^ I've never been much of a bar goer but visited Jumbo's for the first time not long ago and met the owner [daughter of original]. Very nice woman. I can see why the bar has a loyal-term following.

The pressure upon her must be hard to sell-out for one of those new-style joints to go in that spot. Or maybe more 'parking'.

[Zacha341]

...I've got lots of photos and anecdotes from my times in Detroit with Django, John Gannon, Allan Hill in the Packard Plant, Sumas, etc.

That'd be grand to see picks of Suma's and Gannon. Met both in person.

[night-timer]

It looks like Lowell has sorted out the posting/uploading glitch I was experiencing, so I can resume with the daily Detroit photos...

Another shot of 'Django' - ie, Matthew Loflin Davis - at Jumbo's Bar for his Junky Chronicles book launch...

Happy holidays to everyone!