Heidelberg Street, a Diamond in the Ruff in Detroit
The Heidelberg Project is an outdoor art project in Detroit, Michigan. It was created in 1986 by artist Tyree Guyton and his grandfather Sam Mackey (“Grandpa Sam”) as an outdoor art environment in the McDougall-Hunt neighborhood on the city’s east side, just north of the city’s historically African-American Black Bottom area. The Heidelberg Project is, [...]
Chicago Sunset
This photo of a lakefront view of downtown Chicago was taken during my rust belt tour earlier this year. Although most of the trip was focused on finding the beauty in the decayed and neglected industries, we would take moments like this one to see the beauty in the modern city as well. This is [...]
1 1/2 Ton
I love the perspective of this piece. It was taken in an abandoned steel and wire company in Chicago. Every time I look at this photo, it draws me in, spins me around and spits me out. I love that momentary sensation in my stomach like I’m on a spinning ride at Lakeside.
Almost a lost opportunity
This sunset photo was taken just outside of Pittsburgh earlier this year. My brother Josh and I had just finished a weekend of shooting urban exploration photographs in Cleveland and Pittsburgh and were on our way back to Toledo, Oh for Easter. We had waited for the sunset in the city on one of the [...]
Azteca
This Aztec inspired garment was created by Denver designer, Armando Guerra. The make-up was done by Denver make-up artist, Becky Laschanzky www.missbeckymakeupartist.com Shooting fashion is always great because I get to collaborate with other talented artists. The final images are always a surprise and I love that!
Kaitlyn
This portrait of up and coming model Kaitlyn Amick was taken last week as part of a portfolio shoot for local designer, Armando Guerra. Make-up was done by Becky Laschanzky www.missbeckymakeupartist.com who did a great job at creating this soft clean look.
Reclaim
As my brother, Joshua and I explored forgotten buildings throughout the rust belt, we noticed a relationship between the man made structures and nature. As the wind, rain and sun work on breaking down many of these old buildings, plant life begins to invade. Often the plants will grow on the roof tops or inside [...]
Pressure
I’ve always had a fascination with water towers. I’m not sure what it is about them but since I was a kid I’ve been attracted to them. During my trip to the rust belt, I took the opportunity to shoot a lot of water towers. Many of which I’m sure I will post on the [...]
Desicration
As my brother Joshhua (www.ballmultimedia.com) and I were looking for building to photograph in Toledo, Ohio, we came across this church. As I looked over the desicration of this place of worship I thought about what had happened here. Who got married at this alter, now painted with inverted pentagrams? Who sang in these aisles [...]
Walleye Run
The Walleye Run in the Maumee River in Toledo, Oh is a big event each year. It’s so big, Toledo has named it’s professional hockey team, The Walleyes, who are actually in the playoffs right now. Each year the Walleye come up the Maumee river to spawn and it attracts hundreds of fisherman each year. [...]
Freight Elevator No. 4
This shot is part of the series I’m working on with my younger brother Joshua www.ballmultimedia.com. We’re traveling to cities in the rust belt documenting the effects of the economy and shift of jobs over seas on American industries. This shot was taken in a massive industrial structure in Detroit. I love the way the [...]
Ice Painting 3
Ice paintings are one of my favorite rainy afternoon photography project. It’s easy to accomplish. First, freeze a container of water into ice. A disposable food container works great. Then, set up some lights or use natural light if it’s available. Slowly add your favorite colors of food coloring or acrylic paints and take macro [...]
Coal Power
This coal fired power plant in Denver is one of thousands in the country. As we shift our focus to more green technologies for creating energies, scenes like this will become more rare. We’ll begin to see more solar panels and wind turbines replacing smoke stacks and huge piles of coal.
Ice Escape
This morning I got up nice and early to start shooting here in Detroit. It was very chilly and I came across this fire escape covered in ice. I loved the texture and feel if the scene but the images I was taking just didn’t do much for me. Then I got out the fisheye [...]
1956
What was happening in the U.S. when this penny was made? President: Dwight D. Eisenhower Vice President: Richard M. Nixon Population: 168,903,031 Life expectancy: 69.7 years Homicide Rate (per 100,000): 4.6 US GDP (1998 dollars): $438 billion Federal spending: $70.64 billion Federal debt: $272.7 billion Consumer Price Index: 27.2 Unemployment: 4.4% Cost of a first-class [...]
Death
Denver is filled with little treasures like this. This cemetery is in a very industrial part of town. There are so many symbols of death in this photograph, I couldn’t resist shooting it. From the tombstones to the barren trees to the still factory in the background, death prevails.
Failed State?
Yesterday my brother and I shot our first day in Detroit. Although I knew that times were bad in Detroit, I really had no idea how bad it really was. We found our selves saying “Oh my God” over and over. It looks like a war zone in so many places. There isn’t going to [...]
High-Level Bridge
The Anthony Wayne Bridge, a 3,215-foot suspension bridge crossing the Maumee River, has been a staple of Toledo’s skyline for more than 70 years. It is locally known as the “High-Level Bridge.” This bridge is an iconic image in Toledo. This shot was taken today at sunset with my brother Joshua. We’ve been shooting together [...]
warehouse#1
Buildings like this are scattered throughout the Toledo, Oh area. Once a great industrial city filled with manufacturers of glass, autos, bearings and other objects is now filled with abandoned shells slowly decaying. In other parts of the country, buildings like this one are coveted as urban Loft projects, but in Toledo they are just [...]
Rust Bug
Part of the reason I chose to come to the rust belt to shoot a photography project is that I love the aesthetic of decay. This image of a vw bug in Erie, Co caught my eye for its different stages of corrosion.
Drill Baby Drill
As I traveled along I-25 north of Denver, I realized the landscape was spattered with these oil drills. I’m always looking for situations where there’s a juxtaposition of nature and man. Although we’re currently completely dependent on oil for transportation, energy and plastics. I hope that one day these oil drills are replaced with renewable [...]
Industry of Religion
I passed this scene the other day in Denver and I was drawn to the juxtaposition of the religious and industrial icons. Both have been worshiped at different times of history by different groups of people. As I start to shoot the fall of our once great industrial sector, I will continue to look for [...]
Denial
This image was part of a handmade book I made based on the theme of Denial. This represents the elephant in the room that everyone seems to be able to ignore. At the time GW was still in office and I was amazed at how the general public was blind to his ways.
Bike Parade
These brave cyclists/artists ride in the Denver Gay Pride Parade in 2008. They creatively create these two story bikes that get them at least 10 off the ground. They were having a great ride that day. The parade paused right as they reached me and they began circling me over and over again. It made [...]
