Comments on: USA, Detroit: Once an Icon of American Prosperity

By: CB

CB — Fri, 10 Dec 2010 16:09:42 +0000

It is hard to imagine/ believe that a town like Detroit that was once the pinacle of industry in the world is now not much better than a war torn third world country. Great photos! Sad story!

By: Q.

Q. — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 20:43:55 +0000

I don’t know the cause of the dog’s death. But the dog was definitely abused.
Whatever you think of me, or other photographers doing the similar type of coverage, then if you comment,i want to say thank you.The reason is simple. One of the aims is to bring the attention to the coverage. Otherwise, the sad, hopeless situation might continue forever. In fact many areas in many countries have experienced it without any notice from the outside.

By: Debra Clinton

Debra Clinton — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 19:59:20 +0000

While I find the images of the people to be sad and hopeless, I find the image of the dead dog to be utterly horrifying! I know there are people out there who will help those people, but there was no help for this poor, forgotten animal… Did it die of starvation or was it abused? Would the photographer just snap a picture of a dead person, and then walk away?

We are no better than the rest of the animals…

By: Mateo

Mateo — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 23:58:02 +0000

Great photos, looks like what I saw while I was lost in Detroit. So sad to see…

By: Trey

Trey — Mon, 10 May 2010 11:15:38 +0000

Artistically, the photos are beautiful, but as a story this is inadequate.

It fails to grasp the full arc of the last century: at the beginning, Detroit’s population doubled in size from 1900-1910, and again from 1910-1920. In context therefore, a decline of population over the last *60* years back to the solid, prosperous city we had at the end of the 19th century probably isn’t the end of the world. This story totally ignores that three quarters of our population, incomes, wealth and education (inside people’s heads) now lives *outside* the city limits!

If you need a way to grasp this think of the 3/4ths of our Tigers, Wings, Pistons, and even Lions fans. They are still committed to Detroit but are clearly not as badly off as the core of the city that is 100 years old. Buildings there are nearly all less than 50 years old and thus not yet in need of rehab or replacement now as are the ones in the core. The technology used in building the Packard plant beginning in 1905 didn’t exist when Henry Ford built his first plant on Piquette in 1904, much less when he and Albert Kahn began the construction of the Highland Park in 1909! At that moment, the other side of Woodward for its entire Highland Park length from Tuxedo to Six Mile was eight family farms!

We need to understand how much has been accomplished here and be optimistic but realistic about how much more we can still achieve.

By: Q,

Q, — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 19:41:51 +0000

Thank you Mikko.
Q,

By: Mikko

Mikko — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 19:34:56 +0000

Grim photos for a grim story. Great work Q.!

By: Q,

Q, — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:40:50 +0000

Thanks.
Q,

By: Paulo

Paulo — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:13:15 +0000

Great set of images! Well done Q.

By: Q,

Q, — Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:57:12 +0000

Thanks guys for the comments. The story may stir. But i don’t think it is misleading. The images show one of the critical reality in Detroit — in my view.
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