Detroit Portraits


  • Photographer
    Brian Kelly
  • Prize
    Honorable Mention
  • Company/Studios
    Brian Kelly Photography & Film
  • Date of Photograph
    2011-2013

Brian has spent the better part of two years creating "Detroit Portraits." This personal project swims upstream against the onslaught of ruin porn and photo narratives that only focus on Detroit's decay and abandonment. Brian instead focuses on the people moving Detroit forward within their own environment.

Story

"Detroit Portraits" is a personal project that began in 2011 because of my utter fatigue in seeing Detroit visually portrayed largely through the prism of abandonment, decay, ruins and now; bankruptcy.

If you only paid attention to the national media, your Instagram feed or tumblr sites, you might believe Detroit is already dead.

But I know differently. Detroit is not dead. I know this because I have been documenting Detroit's future. Now.

Detroit's future rests with its entrepreneurs, artists, musicians, mentors, recovering addicts, innovators, urban farmers, clergy, children and educators.

If urban decay is commonly viewed as the face of Detroit, "Detroit Portraits" attempts to portray its soul.

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