Angry Vesuvius, a photo from Michigan, Midwest

Photographer's Note

When I came on the fire that was ravaging and old factory and warehouse across the street I saw this view that made me think of Naples. I imagined this is what it might look like with Vesuvius billowing out ash over the old churches of Torre di Greco or Pompeii. It was quite a sight to see this thick black smoke blowing just above the bell towers as the warehouse block across the street burned to the ground.

You can see the fire by clicking on the theme link on the left side.

Detroit is a city that boasts a large number of beautiful churches founded by immigrants, unrivaled by many other American cities. The city was founded by French Catholics and has the second oldest parish in the United States, St. Anne de Detroit founded in 1701. Over time the city took in a large number of Catholic immigrants from Central Europe.

This church, St. Francis d'Assisi, was founded in 1889 by Polish immigrants as the fifth Polish parish in Detroit. At the time it was built the area was on the edge of the city, on a former wheat field, but it quickly saw the booming city surround it and its numbers grow. The first pastor of the parish was Father Byzewski who selected the builder, Martin Landczakowski, and architect, Henry Engelbert. Within two years of founding the church was dedicated in 1891.

As the city grew through the automobile industry so did the parish. Father Kieruj, second pastor, added a 22 room school, new rectory, convent and parish hall. But he also left a huge debt of 160,000 dollars. The third pastor, Father Grudinski was able to rally the parish and within 9 years have the debt paid off.

In 1928 the church became the third church in Detroit and the fifth in the nation to be consecrated. In the church were placed the relics of St. Thomas, St. Teophilus, three grains of incense and an attestation written on parchment. Today they are in the main alter.

After having reached a population of 2 million in the mid '50s, Detroit began a slow population loss to the suburbs. Over time many of the old parishes in Detroit proper were closed and the old churches sold and either torn down, converted or abandoned. So many beautiful buildings have been lost this way.

In the 1980s it was feared that St. Francis would be closed, especially after the Sisters of St. Joseph left and the school closed. But at the end of the evaluation the church was saved in time for its centennial celebrations. And with the influx of a thriving Mexican community the church may again see new prosperity in the future, surviving the troubling end of the 20th century.

Galmeida, Tue, Lisas_world, tobourge, wilkinsonsg, bertolucci, maphoto, Traveller, ChristianS, premels, kajenn, elihesamian, Rinie_Hoff, sarju, roconnell, carper, jrj, daggoo, lennarts, danos, matt_harris_42, KevRyan trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Galmeida (12559) 2005-11-15 17:17

Hi Paul,
For many time I didn't see your fine Portfolio and work, and is normal actually with so many members at TE, as you understand. I like also to share but are daily in positive critiques and I will do my best. THanks for your great notes and guideline and also for this excelent and nice piece of architecture in this decisive capture moment with this impressive sky and situation so well captured.

Excelent work, eye catch, vertical frame for dimension and quality picture.

Thanks for sharing and a great work you present us.
Best to you.
Fernando

ptibelo (3380) 2005-11-15 17:18 [Comment]

Show Comment

Tue (92302) 2005-11-15 18:09

Hej Paul,
The smoke creates a dramatic shot. Very well seen and taken. I like the combination of the smoke and the church here, you placed both well in a good composition, good work!
Hilsner,
Lars

Lisas_world (1232) 2005-11-15 20:11

Paul,

I like how you have shown the church tower at a precarious "tilt", emphasizing the encroaching danger. Very dramatic the way you have the darkest smoke defining the bright outline of the building. Thank you for the informative note!

Regards, Lisa

kclai (2267) 2005-11-15 21:56

Hi Paul
Another shot from the factory that was in blaze but from a different angle. Dramatic image, Paul.
The positioning of the clock tower provided such good contrast against the dark smoke coming from the fire and the small portion of the sky which looked sunny and blue.
This is a good composition shot and the exposure are nicely executed.
Another great job, Paul.
Thanks for sharing and appreciated your good text.
Eric Lai

Myriam_Nancy (26) 2005-11-15 23:44

Very unusual and unique shot! Nice work.

Amirsun (2122) 2005-11-16 0:23

What a nice perspective Paul! Excellent point of view and great composition! The colours and details are perfect. I like the smoke in this shot.
Tanks for posting.
Regards
Amir

tobourge (971) 2005-11-16 1:27

Hi Paul,

What a nice perspective and dramatic picture. Well seen!

Hope the church escaped from the fire.

Thanks

Tony

wilkinsonsg (8662) 2005-11-16 13:42

A very dramatic shot - the billowing smoke adds a surreal background to the church - heaven and hell in one image...

spence (65) 2005-11-17 7:13

Very dramatic scene, Paul, and the drama is accentuated by your low angle and high contrast. Great colour and sharpness - impressive shot.

zig (2456) 2005-11-17 8:33

The tower looks like being pasted from somewhere else. The smoke, and the tower...normally you wouldn't see them together. Maybe that is why it looks like it? I saw your portfolio on Flickers, saw many more great work pieces there. Gee, yo are very active photographer!

bertolucci (14052) 2005-11-18 13:22

Hi Paul, again a dramatic capture of the fire. You used the very well captured smoke in a creative way to tell us the story of this elegant church (love all the details on the bell tower). The smoke and the perspective distortion take on another role in this nice picture-note gestalt. In more then one sense of the word a dramatic one. I like this a lot.
Have a nice weekend,
Bert

maphoto (8082) 2005-11-18 22:30

Hi Paul, gorgeous picture, the perspective is incredible, very sharp photo and quite impressive. The architecture is very beautiful, dynamic scene as well, well presented, great composition, well seen & done.

Traveller (672) 2005-11-19 0:29

Paul, what an interesting idea and fantasy and its embodiment!

ChristianS (2997) 2005-11-19 6:16

Hi Paul,
Another great shot from the fire series, looking very dramatic and threatning. I like the upward perspective with the church tower aginst the smoke covered sky and the light which creates a nice and strong contrast between these two elements. I also like the title which kind of foretells an imminent catastrophe. Well done!

Regards, Christian

premels (2400) 2005-11-19 17:53

Hi Paul, Impressive tower facing bravely the fire and its thick smoke. The clarity of the picture is great and the tower stands out nicely. It seems stand in defence against the smoke shielding a part of the sky from the fury of the fire.

jrzufferey (7305) 2005-11-20 10:40

Une belle assciation de cet incendie avec ce monument historique en faisant allusion au Vésuve. Bravo c'est magnifique. Ciao/jr

kajenn (2462) 2005-11-20 20:46

At first glance I really thought it was Vesuvius blowing smoke, Paul. So you did a great 'imaginary image' of the scene, especially with large pieces of cinder flying around this beautiful church tower. The multitude of contrasts, the upward angle with a slight distortion/tilt, the billowing smoke and the tight composition really convey a feeling of an imminent danger or an approaching Doomsday... And yet it's an excellent architectural shot, showing one of the early Catholic churches of Detroit in eminent sharpness. Very well done!

This series certainly contain some of your best shots!

alvaraalto (42804) 2005-11-21 16:23

Hi Paul,
I'm glad this beautiful tower isn't on fire. The dark smoke looks threatening. Excellent picture.
groet Rob

Fixfocus (9385) 2005-11-22 7:22

Hi Paul,
Excellent one in your reportage series of the big fire.The long focal lenghth is compressing the distance between the church tower and the smoke,-looks really dangerous.
Good compo and framing.
Greetings,
Hermann

elihesamian (26149) 2005-11-22 12:59

Hello Paul,

Amazing scale of the smoke/fire you show us with a horrible colors and form,and what a light you had in the time! that the light made the scene wonderful with your great controlling,
another great note /real story with a photo,interesting and very useful,Thanks,
The scene's elements is skilfully managed in vertical format,excellent quality and sharpness and great one in the serie,...although we are witness of this sad happening!
Yours
M

zeca (19762) 2005-11-24 1:32

You have so many good comments that we just can repeat them all. Very dramatic sky! Nice composition very well framing. Focus is great, and so is the light! Very nice job, Paul!

Rinie_Hoff (9340) 2005-11-24 3:17

Hi Paul, this is a very dramatic picture with the big black clouds of smoke coming from behind this beautiful belltower. It is the same effect when you have sunlight from under a thunderous sly. All the more drama is created by your PoV, standing close and taken from under. If would have been far less dramatid if you'd stepped back. The tilt adds drama and dynamism too. Good photo journalism work!
Oh, and Happy Thanksgiving, Paul

sarju (5324) 2005-11-24 11:05

Hi Paul
Very nice study again.
I liked the dramatic effects of sunny untouched building with the background of dark smoke.
It looks as if there are two worlds in here and the world of the building is yet untouched by the world of smoke.
Very impressive shot and thanks for the informative note. I had no idea that Detroit had such an old history. Very interesting reading
cheers .... sarju
PS: Which building have you featured in the photo, is it the cathedral. (From your note, It was'nt clear enough for me)

roconnell (327) 2005-11-29 17:44

A wonderfully dramatic scene, both in content and composition. The high constrast and deep tones add to the drama without actually seeing the flames. Well done.

carper (96) 2005-12-02 13:24

wauw what a shot Paul,
very good contrast between this two, a very good sky with a fantastic church in good light and packed in a good frame very good photo, I like it a lot,
gr. jaap

banyanman (7797) 2005-12-09 9:49

Very creative Paul, and very observant too that you were able to spot this photo opportunity when there was so much going on around the actual fire. POV, framing, exposure and sharpness are all excellent. Cheers . . . David

Stepan (27210) 2005-12-09 13:22

I really enjoy your title and the way you composed the shot. The light and the contrast are excellent.
Stéphane

jrj (34843) 2005-12-13 6:58

Good shot, compo and power of the old tower, and of course the effect of the heavy smog from the fire. I like the comparison to Pompei - sure a scary thing to experience in that other time and place.
Good notes of this place

rahul__rahul__ (2250) 2006-01-02 11:15

Hi Paul,
nice picture, I like the cloud and your POV. The colors are nice, and your picture is sharp. Thanks for sharing!
Regards,
Rahul

Photobones (347) 2006-01-29 19:52

Stellar photography. Good catch.

alexwolf (0) 2006-03-03 3:44

Excellent shot.

Very good POV.

Regards ...

Burberry1 (6041) 2006-07-04 15:21

Excellent, very unreal photo...a little bit fairy tail one.
Everything seems to be perfect here:)))))
Thanks

Greetings from Poland, Agnieszka

lennarts (547) 2007-01-25 14:24

Very dramatic photo - excellent capture of an unusual moment.
It is beautiful how the smoke is very dark on the photo near the tower - so the tower really stands out. Good POV and colors. Thanks for a thorough note.

danos (110407) 2007-04-27 11:12

Hello Paul,
a nice shot from you but a difficult moment for the old factory and warehouse.I like the compination of the smoke and the tilt church tower.Excellent the colours and the sharpness.Very informative your note.Well done.
Have a nice weekend,Danos

Thank you for your interesting critique for 'The sunset'