What Becomes of the Broken Hearted Photo

Photographer’s Note

As I showed in the other Studebaker shot the old site completely burned to the ground. Two days later they were still trying to put out the hot spots. Here a firefighter enters the site, apparently going on duty to relieve someone from the previous shift.

So many of Detroit's fine buildings from the past have gone up in flame. Others sit decaying and falling apart while others have deliberately been torn down only to be replaced by asphalt parking lots. It's sad to see so much of the past lost, especially in a city that was at one time the most productive in the world. Only 50 years ago industry still thrived and the city bustled with 2 million people. But today only 900,000 people remain and only a fraction of the industry.

As I was going home I heard Jimmy Ruffin's MoTown classic "What Becomes of the Broken Hearted" on the radio as I drove past neighborhoods that have almost completely disappeared and have been forgotten. Even MoTown abandoned the city and headed for Hollywood. So I decided the song title suited the scene here. Especially since there were people here who cared enough for the city to become firefighters.

I placed a cropped version in the workshop but decided on this since it shows the full scale of the scene he’s approaching.

"What Becomes of the Broken Hearted"
Jimmy Ruffin

As I walk this land of broken dreams
I have visions of many things
But happiness is just an illusion
Filled with sadness and confusion

What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe

The roots of love grow all around
But for me they come a tumblin' down
Every day heartaches grow a little stronger
I can't stand this pain much longer

I walk in shadows
Searching for light
Cold and alone
No comfort in sight
Hoping and praying for someone to care
Always moving and going nowhere

What becomes of the broken hearted
Who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Help me

I'm searching though I don't succeed
But someone look, there's a growing need
All is lost, there's no place for beginning
All that's left is an unhappy ending
Now what becomes of the brokenhearted
Who had love that's now departed
I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
I'll be searching everywhere
Just to find someone to care

I'll be looking everyday
I know I'm gonna find a way
Nothing's gonna stop me now
I'll find a way somehow
I'll be searching everywhere

robiuk, Rinie_Hoff, snuggleaphagus, Tue, MarekP, nwoehnl, jhm, supereira, elihesamian, roconnell, rajhema, banyanman, perryhooter, john_c, bpelvan trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

robiuk (10763) 2005-07-02 15:35

Hi Paul,
I'm not surprised at all you decided in favour of this one when making a decision which one to post.
The other one has its quality and weight, but here we have so much going on above this huge and powerful pile of old metal, bricks and debris - all this highly in contrast with the firefighter who appear to walk nonchalantly towards the heart of the scene.
Very good composition and colour saturation.
I can feel the heat, as well!
Robi

Rinie_Hoff (9332) 2005-07-02 17:38

Hi Paul, a sad documentary shot, certainly when you like these buildings like you do. There's nothing left but a bunch of steel and debris. Your note is fine tribute for the firefighters.
The shot itself is very good, good composition, although I would have cropped the way you did in your workshop. I tried it before I saw you had posted a different version as well. The still standing lamppost is a sad detail, as well as the remaining jet of water.
Nice colors, did you saturated them?

snuggleaphagus (4140) 2005-07-02 18:02

This one is better than the workshop.
Hi Paul
The colors of these last 2 photos is so good. Old buildings dying is sad to me. I always think of those who have labored to build them, and then of those who used the buidings and then when they die it's like a legacy that ceases to exist . Such an uncerimonious demise without dignity. In the case of this it is even sadder because this building was one that had history and was an integral part of a generation's livelihood. (it's almost disrespectful). I know I am sappy, maybe I should have been an architect.
Back to your photo ...it is very good and the arch of the water seems to make a entry way for the frirefighter to cross under. Your photo transmits so much heat.
The tittle just adds more to my sappy love declaration of love for old buildings.

Tue (25608) 2005-07-02 18:48

Hi Paul,
Very strong picture with this lonely man in front of the destroyed building. Good colours, very well done!
Groetjes,
Lars

randompics (913) 2005-07-03 2:13

nice composition and colors. the ruins and the bent steel gives that cold feeling..

MarekP (4744) 2005-07-03 6:01

Hi Paul,
This is both a very good document and a great photo too. The pieces of bent steel are very graphical and colorfull. I like the WS version a bit more, but this one is more informative. Thanks for sharing and for very interesting and expressive note too.

Have a nice Sunday,
Marek

nwoehnl (120) 2005-07-03 13:37

The WS crop is not bad, but I think I would also have gone for the wider-angle view as it tells the story more comprehensively, Paul. The firefighter walking in front of the debris is well placed from a compositional point of view, and is an essential detail to increase the emotional appeal of the photo. Excellent handling of the strong light; I also like the shadow of the walking man on the ground.

Furachan (0) 2005-07-04 3:25

First off, Paul, I love the colors...rust everywhere, everything coroded, burned, gone. The lone fireman cuts a powerful, heroic figure in this junk world. Then your excellent notes, title and the lyrics to jimmy Ruffin's song...It's all there. Bravo, Francis in Tokyo.

jhm (82909) 2005-07-04 6:18

Hi Paul,
I find your WS more beautiful than these, but this is personal, I like the details more and better, also a very great and interesting note. Perfectly of colours, nice composition.
Greetings,
John.

sergecross (3438) 2005-07-04 21:05

Hi Paul:
Excellent point of view and fantastic theme to work. Well Done!!
I like the background and the speed to take the water. Congratulations!!
Sergio

billabongx (1561) 2005-07-05 3:19

Hi Paul,
Very beautiful picture of this...., the sharpness and details are very clear, also the details are clear. Your note is great as usual and the walking man is perfect inside this photo!!
Have a nice day
daniele

supereira (9576) 2005-07-05 5:38

Great shot.I like it a lot!Very good colors,light and sharpness.Great composition and DOF.I like the contrast between the lonely man and the destroyed building.Good job!

ElSato (824) 2005-07-05 16:26

Paul,

The workshop is visually simpler than the original because you've cut out a lot of what would normally be considered "clutter" in the background. Because of this the workshop strikes the eye in a bolder way, but especially in light of your comments I'm inclined to say that the background isn't "clutter" at all, it's the larger context of a city in decline that frames the smaller drama of this burnt building. Which is a long way of saying: I like the original better.

I really appreciate the thoughtful notes. I tend to write long, detailed notes myself (sometimes with poetry, as you've used lyrics) because I think it can really enhance the appreciation of the photo if it's well done, turning it into a multi-faceted experience. Certainly that's the case here.

Your point about Motown's move perfectly underscores what you're saying... it's not Hitsville USA if it's not in Detroit. They took the "mo" out of Motown and it never prospered in Cali anyway.

Lee

elihesamian (26091) 2005-07-08 7:21

I know I've got to find
Some kind of peace of mind
Maybe
Great in your serie,Paul!
very well worked with a nice sensitive note and info,it's a special serie,Thanks for posting the all,here is the shot with dynamic touch and strongly captured with excellent sharpness and details and very well composed,too,I appreciate it,Paul!
Best Wishes
M

roconnell (327) 2005-07-10 23:08

Very poignant scene. There is energy from the immediate movement of the water and firefighter entering the scene, as well as a slower decay that is evident in the rusted rubble. It does break the heart to see emblems of MoTown's height go up in flames. Great photojournalism style with lots of impact. Well done.

jrzufferey (7249) 2005-07-15 14:43

Superbe image de ce pompier encore tout fumant sur les lieux du sinistre.

gsgeorge (756) 2005-07-19 18:29

I see you made it out to the ruins. Nice work here, your composition shows the enormity of the rubble pile, and using a telephoto lens and including a human element emphasizes this as well; smart choice!

rajhema (1867) 2005-07-22 12:54

lots of history about michigan. Thanks for bringing it Paul.

banyanman (7716) 2005-07-22 23:07

When I saw the thumbnail of this picture I thought it was of a lonely hobo walking past a scrap metal yard, but when I viewed the full size and read the notes it is a completely different story - albeit still a sad one. The colours and composition of this documentary shot are excellent Paul. Cheers . . . David

john_c (24635) 2005-08-04 22:32

Hi Paul,
This is a very evocative shot, and each time I view it I find more subtle points of interest. Despite the wreckage, the nonchalant gait and pose of the fireman causes one to sit back and feel confident that the ruins will be resurrected in the form of a new building, all is not lost. The clarity of the charred metal and debris is amazing. A great contribution and well executed shot, Paul. I like it.
John

cloverstar (0) 2005-08-22 9:50

The title is very fitting. Very good journalistic style of photo. The inclusion of the firefighter adds a good human element to the devastating scene. The rich colour of the rust is good, and I like the diagonal line.

bpelvan (3786) 2005-09-26 21:45

Hi Paul,
A very very heart touching documentary shot. This reminds me the Sep.11th and raises my heart ache again. Loosing the old values is an another ache you know.
Very sharp image with so realistic colors. Excellent PoV. Thanks for sharing...
Bulent