May 23, 2010

I Don't Usually...

Canon EOS 7D | Canon 35mm f/1.4 | Available Light
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People outside of Michigan may be surprised to know that Detroit has become a hotbed for Hollywood film productions. This is due to aggressive tax incentives instituted by Governor Jennifer Granholm.

Some argue Michigan is not netting the full benefits of the incentives because the incentives lean heavily in favor of filmmakers at the expense of being fiscally optimal for the state.

Either way, major Hollywood productions are being filmed in Detroit and that makes a simple Midwestern farm-boy such as myself just ripe with excitement.



As a matter of fact, there was a film crew scouting the building I work in earlier on the day of this portrait.

That's why when I saw this young woman crossing the street from the same building that the film crew was in earlier, I assumed she was from out of town. Her attire had a cosmopolitan sensibility, she was smoking a cigarette, and walking with a stomping determination most suited for pounding the broad, crowded sidewalks of Manhattan into submission

When she crossed over to my side of the street, I quite self-assuredly announced to HER ... that SHE was not from Detroit ( I've always found it useful to make an assumption first and question that assumption second).

"Born and raised..."

Pleasantly surprised and embarrassed,  I explained my project and asked if I could include her in it.

"Well, I don't usually..."

I told her that every time a woman has told me that, something really good happened soon thereafter.

I hope this portrait accords with tradition...

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

PLAYER PLAYER!! lol You got that smooth old man game! LOL! *looks at her pic* *shrug* I'd hit. :)

The People of Detroit said...

Naw, just a fucked up sense of humor.

I was risking being mildly offensive, but it was funny in my head so I had to say it...

A poor policy for sure :)

Princess Pika said...

Do you know how excited I was when I heard about the incentives. I thought it was a great way to bring back a positive spotlight onto the city of Detroit. Detroit is like a Phoenix, it goes through its many stages but it always rises from its ashes reborn and stronger than ever.

Unknown said...

And what a payoff! Your quick wit landed you a great shot.