Lost in the Chaos

The picture “Highland Park Police Station” from the photo essay “The Ruins of Detroit” particularly peaked my interest whenever I went through the projects. It shows a disheveled, abandoned police station with many papers and photos left behind. I think the photograph’s depth serves as the main compositional element. Up close, you see many pictures (possibly suspects or victims), fingerprint documents, and “reward” signs. You can pick up on many small details. In the middle ground, you see several desks with open drawers and scattered documents. In the background, you can see two blue doors and more papers on the ground. The depth of this picture makes it more interesting than if you could only see the papers up close or the scattered desks. Instead, you get this whole chaotic image at once, which seems to work for the shot. Although the picture seems cluttered, I think the photographer followed the rule of thirds by off-centering the beaten up white door to the left. With so much going on, it acts as a nice focal point for the picture. Lastly, leading lines from tiles on the walls take the viewers eyes from the close up pictures and papers all the way to the back of the room. It seems to pull the viewer further into the picture. All of these compositional techniques make for an interesting photo.

This picture fits well with the other pictures of “The Ruins of Detroit.” The photographer shows many different kinds of abandoned buildings and facilities: banquet halls, hotels, schools, libraries, office buildings, and a post office. The abandoned police station relates to the other images to create an overall story about Detroit as a deteriorating city.

This photo evokes a sense of curiosity and empathy within the viewer. A police station is supposed to be an organized, populated safe haven of the community. Instead, we see a ransacked, desolate station. As a viewer, I felt intrigued and saddened by the emptiness. I don’t know why, but I almost felt like this picture captured a sense of tragedy that I cannot exactly put my finger on.

Overall, this image conveys a story of loss. A police station that was once a vital part of the community is now gone, along with schools, theaters, and other public places within Detroit. This photo tells a story of the history of Detroit: what used to be and what is now. This picture of the Highland Park Police Station raises many questions for me. Why was it abandoned? Did it move to another location? Why did they leave behind these records and photographs? What happened to Detroit to allow this much abandonment within the city? Specifically, I can’t help but wonder what happened in this station to get to where it was in this photograph.