Packard Plant, East Side

This photo stands out to me because it shows how abandoned Detroit is and how the city looks almost post apocalyptic. The woman in the picture also caught my eye because it reminds me of Charlie LeDuff's sister who died in a car accident one night while prostituting herself out to men on the street. It really puts things into perspective and makes me realize what respectable women like LeDuff's sister would have to resort to because of what has happened to the city. The woman in the picture looks like she might be heading towards the broken down apartment buildings for shelter. I like that Reina Carissa's post uses the term "ghostly town". I think that is an accurate way to describe the picture and what it represents. What seems to be an abandoned boat in the middle of the decaying buildings give off the feeling that the place is not safe and people should be very careful where they go in Detroit. The woman in the picture is the most shocking part of the photo because her awkward position and lack of attire suggests that her situation is so bad that it is irreversible and she, along with plenty of other young women like her, are doomed if they stay in this town.

Funeral of an Innocent Boy, East Side

The photo of the funeral for innocent boy was startling to me. The fact that the close family and some friends seem to be surrounding the boy and then others are sitting down, looking like they are waiting for a train. The looks on these people's faces were shocking. They just seemed so habituated in a way that did not seem normal or appropriate for the death of a human being. This photo speaks to the massive amounts of violence that is running rampant in the streets of Detroit and is taking no prisoners. This photo exemplifies that no one is safe from it and that something must be done to avoid these in home funerals and the deaths of innocent people across Detroit.

The Ruins of Detroit

Detroit: American Autopsy by Charlie LeDuff

Photograph by Danny Wilcox Frazier

The image of "ghostly town" that LeDuff uses to describe his native city, Detroit, in his journal suits the picture above, that is also shown on the back page of the book. The abandoned building, surrounded by debris and garbage, a wrecked boat, and the back of a woman - almost naked - showed how awful it was in Detroit, that nobody gives a "damn" about anything that happened in town. The woman in the picture also reminded me of Charlie's sister that he describes in the book. People looking at the picture above might be disgusted, ashamed, of how the woman seemed to have gone too far, but she could be a victim of some crime and she could also be someone as close as a family. It terrifies me imagining what is she up to, wearing only her underwear, stocking, and heels, in that particular surrounding.

Firemen, Eastside

I chose this image because it spoke to me the most. Here are three firemen which appear to be examining the remains of a burned out building. The firemen are dirty and covered in soot, they also look dead tired the one in the middle standing is using his hook as a rest as one of the other one takes a knee. When you first look at this picture one thing that did not pop out at me was the fact that the fireman on the far left is making a face. He appears to be frowning, but it looks almost exaggerated like he is fighting back tears. I think that he is fighting back tears here, which makes this a picture of three firemen in quiet desperation watching their city burning around them.
This really is a reflection of Detroit, with the city bankrupt they are literally at rock bottom with nowhere to go but up. Even though they are at the bottom they are still there and with the city collapsing these men have the hopeless task of saving it.

"SUMMER NIGHT, BELLE ISLE"

I chose this image because when I first saw it I wasn't sure what to think of it. There seems to be some mystery surrounding the significance of this image. There is a man surrounded by the darkness of night and his face is somewhat shrouded by leafy tree branches. It almost seems like you would have to know some background information about this person in order to completely understand something. Even though it is not completely clear, I feel like there is still a message being conveyed. When analyzing this image, it  made me think of two opposite underlining meanings. It's interesting that he is standing in the spot light while everything in the background is dark. This spotlight may portray hope in a otherwise hopeless situation. He is wearing nice cloths so this may symbolize success in a place where it is rare. He is also smiling, which could symbolize happiness. All of this may reflect the concept that there is hope in Detroit for success or happiness.
Or this could be seen in a negative way. This man instead of a hopeful figure could be seen as a person with some kind of alternative devious motives. His smile could be seen as sinister in a way. This could then symbolize the corruption in Detroit.

"Child, East Side"

This image portrays a toddler roaming a junk ridden yard in the Detroit suburbs. The blurry quality of the photograph alludes to the obscured perception of a child's eye, unable to fully comprehend the devastation and instability around them. Thus, the child frolics through the trash as if it is her own playground. The trash itself stands as a symbol for the problems, and their consequences, of Detroit. The accumulation of these issues--including racial tension, corrupt government action, unemployment, and crime--creates a troublesome environment for a child to grow up in. The mistakes of previous generations, as well as those that are in power now, build up like trash in the Detroit suburbs. The child in the photograph stands alone, no one there to guide her through the chaos. The younger generations of America are left to clean the mess, burdened with a future of uncertainty.

Abandoned Doll House, Midtown

This image reminds me of all the abandoned houses in Detroit.  Just like the real house where people lived in, this Doll House was important and valuable to a child.  This is an irony because just all of the other abandoned houses are like this little house garbage, and meaningless. Abandoned, exposed, deteriorating and disposable.  It is left to the elements to dispose of it.