Alright, so folks have been asking, or maybe just me thinking out loud, about this “oblige detroit” thing I got myself into. Wasn’t exactly a walk in the park, let me tell you.
What “Oblige Detroit” Was Supposed to Be
So, “oblige detroit.” Sounds fancy, maybe? Nah. It was just this nagging feeling, this… well, obligation I felt. I’d promised myself, and a couple of old friends, that I’d really get a part of Detroit. Not the shiny new bits everyone talks about, but something deeper. I figured, I’ll grab my camera, wander around, talk to people. Easy peasy. Document the real vibe, you know?
The Real Reason Behind It All
But here’s the kicker. Why was I so hell-bent on this? It wasn’t just some artistic whim. See, I’d just been through a rough patch. Lost a gig I thought was solid. One day you’re planning projects, next day, your access card doesn’t work. No explanations, just “we’re restructuring.” Yeah, right. Left me feeling pretty adrift, questioning a lot of things. Detroit, in a weird way, felt like it understood that vibe of being counted out and then fighting back. So “oblige detroit” became more than just a photo project; it was me trying to find my own footing again, by trying to understand a place that’s all about resilience.
How I Actually Went About It
So, with that chip on my shoulder, I started. It wasn’t some clean, step-by-step manual, but here’s roughly how it went down:
- First, I just drove. No plan. Got lost a bunch. Saw things I wouldn’t have if I’d stuck to a map. Some parts were tough to see, real neglect. Others, you’d find these amazing murals or a community garden thriving in the middle of nowhere. That was the raw start.
- Then, I forced myself to park and walk. That’s when it changes. You hear the city, smell it. Started carrying a small notepad along with the camera. Initially, I was just gonna take photos, but words started coming. Snippets of conversations, my own thoughts. It felt more real.
- Talking to people was the hardest and best part. I’m not naturally an outgoing guy, especially when I’m feeling down. But I’d made this promise, this “obligation.” So, I’d go into a local coffee shop, a bakery, sometimes just strike up a chat with someone on their porch. Some folks were wary, you could tell. Others opened right up. Heard stories, man. Stories of struggle, hope, a fierce love for their city. That’s the stuff you don’t see on the news.
- The “oblige” part really kicked in when things got tough. Days I didn’t want to go out. Days the bleakness felt overwhelming, especially with my own stuff going on. Or when my old camera started acting up and I didn’t have the cash for a new one right away. But I’d think about that “restructuring” email, and it’d light a fire under me. This wasn’t just for them, it was for me.
So, What Came Out of This Whole Thing?
So, what did I “achieve” with “oblige detroit”? No gallery shows, no book deal, not yet anyway. What I got was a boatload of photos, sure. A notebook full of scribbles. But more than that, I got a sense of perspective. Sounds cheesy, I know. But seeing that grit, that determination in the face of real hardship, it rubbed off. It made my own problems feel… manageable. I started feeling less like a victim of circumstance and more like I could actually do something. I wasn’t just “obliged” to Detroit; in the end, Detroit kind of obliged me back, gave me a kick in the pants I seriously needed.
It’s still a work in progress, this whole thing. But that’s how “oblige detroit” went down for me. Not a clean, straightforward project, but a messy, human experience. Just like the city itself, I guess.
