The Post-Modern City, a photo from Michigan, Midwest

Photographer's Note

Just sort of randomly walking around downtown I came across all these lines. And it happens that all the buildings and bridges in this shot were all part of urban renewal from the 1970s through 1980s.

The massive complex dominating the scene is the Renaissance Center , which I have written about before. Designed by John Portman as a city within a city it became known for its fortress like feel. Situated away from the old core of downtown, behind massive concrete berms and with a post-modern maze of an interior its retail failed and it sucked dry older gems . Today a massive redevelopment has been undertaken by new owners, General Motors. A riverside Winter Garden , the removal of the berms and a new circulation pattern have so far been completed.

At left is the Millender Center. It was built after the Renaissance Center as another mixed use facility. It consists of a hotel, an apartment tower and retail. The lower bridge in the shot connects it to the city hall and then continues with another bridge just visible below it connecting it to the Renaissance Center in an early attempt to make it more of a part of the city.

The higher bridge is the track of the "People Mover" which is a 3 mile automated elevated train track around downtown. It was hoped it would spur development but the fact that it goes nowhere didn't help to that. This was built instead of the beginnings of a subway system that would have actually connected downtown and the New Center and served a useful purpose.

B/W better suited this image. Color version is in workshop.

Pompey, elroyie, papagolf21, Kenny10pin, kajenn, Roly, elihesamian, jhonny_blue, jhm, c_kyr, taivo, Burnham, cmartos, nwoehnl, rudymalou, charmante, alejandroguzman trouve(nt) cette note utile

Critiques | Translate

Pompey (1117) 2004-06-08 15:13

I agree, this shot is ideal in Black and White, the contrast is greatly enhanced. You found a great position to take this shot from, with lots of straight and curved lines. Well done, Paul.

Ebbe (9625) 2004-06-08 15:18

The two bridges adds a sci-fi feeling to this. Note how diminished the tree looks, this enviroment is not for trees!

B&W was a good choice and well done!

[2]

elroyie (2750) 2004-06-08 15:47

Very good frame, very good details and very good note, I think that croping the bottom of the frame will change the frame a little bit to a nice abstract.

[workshop] [compare] +

papagolf21 (152607) 2004-06-08 16:56

Encore un très bon choix d'angle. L'architecture prend toute son ampleur et sa majesté. Le noir et blanc renforce la composition.
Une très bonne qualité d'image et toujours une note parfaite.
Merci encore Paul.
Still a very good choice of angle. Architecture takes all its width and its majesty. The black and white reinforce the composition.
A very good quality of image and always a perfect note.
Thank you still Paul.

[2]

Kenny10pin (19301) 2004-06-08 18:26

very modern look here, great angle and framing, good job

maphoto (8082) 2004-06-08 19:41

Very nice architecture and great angle you chose, the B&W composition works well here, very sharp, well done.

kajenn (2462) 2004-06-08 20:02

Very appealing, Paul. I like that you did it in B&W, as that really accentuates the post-modern feeling. Something like the video (Frits Lang's "Metropolis") used by Queen in "Radio Ga Ga" - a futuristic and scary movie of what were to be. And maybe we got really close, but luckily not all the way. I like the bridges crossing your picture, especially the "People Mover" track high above, and that you don't let the Renaissance Center dominate the image. Very well done!

[2] +

Burnham (2428) 2004-06-09 3:59

Hard to believe this used to be the home of Motown ;o) Very nice BnW. The compo is very good - a perfect big city shot.

elihesamian (26149) 2004-06-09 4:15

Great work in B&W medium,Well done,Paul!
Excellent for :
*perfect contrast
*Great playing with kinds of lines
*skillfully choosed the angle of view
*A tree between all human made
*And:great composition.
very well done,You did great.

[3]

jhm (211736) 2004-06-09 7:14

Modern architecture picture Paul, a lot of glass, very good details and very good note too.

c_kyr (1810) 2004-06-09 10:23

Great capture of the architecture here Paul.
Wonderful note, too.
Well done!

TimmyMCC (0) 2004-06-09 11:10

Looks like from Queen's radio ga ga...

taivo (1843) 2004-06-09 11:32

This photo is all about lines (and a few curves). I like the architecture of the GM building. B&W is a good choice to bring out the lines because the contrast is stronger, but I would not mind seeing a colour photo of the same shot :)

[2]

wilkinsonsg (8662) 2004-06-09 11:40

I like this B&W image, the modern shapes and the arc of the people mover make a good composition.

cmartos (242) 2004-06-10 5:22

I like how you present the architecture of the GM building. Very good and clever partial natural frame with the two bridges, and a really nice use of lines. Your B&W PP is P*E*R*F*E*C*T ! It reveals greatly all that can be revealed here. Again, this picture shows that you're an architecture lover, a great photographer and an excellent note writer. I always learn and discover a lot with your posts. Very fine work. Thanks for sharing Paul.

nwoehnl (122) 2004-06-10 5:33

Your architecture shots from Detroit are really something, Paul. The way you framed the RC with the lines of the Peoplemover and the connecting pedestrian walkway makes for an excellent presentation. It's also kind of symbolic how the tree is dwarfed by all the urban scenery in this view. The lines and angles reaching upwards are splendid, and this works really great in b&w. Again an amazing writing job on the notes, too, well done.

harold (2377) 2004-06-10 17:06

elle est nétte cette photo pamastro bien penser pour le cadrage et le noir et blanc donne a ta photo de la presence yes

rudymalou (800) 2004-06-11 15:00

I believe all has been said about this GREAT picture, it's perfect: horizontal and vertical tubes crossing at the center and your BW transformation brings very nuanced greys. Definitively 2 pts

charmante (1090) 2004-06-12 1:15

a strong architectural shot...the most powerful element in your shot is the 2 vertical & horizontal elements that you've chosen as the first plan,,, they really specify the space of yr shot.well done Paul !

smiley (613) 2004-06-14 2:10

Very nice vantage point under the people mover. I really like how it frames the buildings in the background. Nicely done.
JB

omritoppol (826) 2004-06-15 3:15

Hi Paul.
I simply like you geometry and POV. All has been written. Well seen

cederico (0) 2004-07-22 4:49

Very good composition, the white and black is well adapted and the higher bridge is giving a very good perspective to the photo. The tree in the bottom right seems so alone in this metallic world.

colinbrenchley (6431) 2004-12-11 17:31

Excellent use of B&W to make the image more powerful. The composition with darkened architecture acting as a frame for the building works well.

rbcy1974 (20758) 2005-03-21 9:21

Hi Paul, its a great composition. Nice geometric forms, the metro platform adds DOF. I trully hope these develoments are giving this city a rebirth, because when I was there 15 years ago, the Detroit seemed like it was really going downhill. Regards

roconnell (327) 2005-06-11 19:37

The composition is stunning. The lines are greatly enhanced with the choice of B&W. Its fantastic that you captured the scale of these architecture momuments by framing the sidewalk to the sky. Well done.

alejandroguzman (4684) 2006-02-08 20:12

Hi Paul

Great composition !!!
Also the perspective, and the BW format, very well chosen.

hugs
Alejandro