Through The Expat Buffalo Network (BEN) Facebook page I was directed to Rustwire.com which is a Cleveland based Midwest -rustbelt city centric blog. They put out a call for entries called "The Big Urban Photography Project". The text from their invite is as follows:
Rustwire is recruiting photographers across the Midwest to take part in a photo project attempting to capture the unique essence of individual Rust Belt cities. We want shots of Cleveland, when the fog rolls in from the lake and blankets downtown. We want the vacant storefront in the old Polish neighborhood in Buffalo. We want children playing in the streets in St. Louis. We want street construction projects, old warehouses, snowstorms and street festivals. We need photographers with an interest in urban landscapes and knowledge and love for their cities. Email us at rustbeltnews@gmail.com to participate.
Interesting project huh? Interesting how they suggest submitting romantic urban images from other rustbelt cities but the only thought that comes to mind for Buffalo is of abandoned storefronts. Well certainly Buffalo has that but also much more. There is no need to whitewash Buffalo's image but perhaps, dear BRO readers, you could treat this as a call to action. Send them your Buffalo images - include the abandoned stuff if you must. Lord knows there are many gorgeous images of Buffalo's abandonment. But, why give them what they expect. Send them images of the living, beautiful city of Buffalo that, although not perfect, does not necessarily fit the lazy stereotype of the dead worthless leftover of a previous era. Buffalo is more than abandonment. Give them a positive powerful image to think of when they think Buffalo!
Image is from Buffalo: Architecture in the American Forgotten Land www.buffbuildings.com
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Rustwire is recruiting photographers across the Midwest to take part in a photo project attempting to capture the unique essence of individual Rust Belt cities. We want shots of Cleveland, when the fog rolls in from the lake and blankets downtown. We want the vacant storefront in the old Polish neighborhood in Buffalo. We want children playing in the streets in St. Louis. We want street construction projects, old warehouses, snowstorms and street festivals. We need photographers with an interest in urban landscapes and knowledge and love for their cities. Email us at rustbeltnews@gmail.com to participate.
Interesting project huh? Interesting how they suggest submitting romantic urban images from other rustbelt cities but the only thought that comes to mind for Buffalo is of abandoned storefronts. Well certainly Buffalo has that but also much more. There is no need to whitewash Buffalo's image but perhaps, dear BRO readers, you could treat this as a call to action. Send them your Buffalo images - include the abandoned stuff if you must. Lord knows there are many gorgeous images of Buffalo's abandonment. But, why give them what they expect. Send them images of the living, beautiful city of Buffalo that, although not perfect, does not necessarily fit the lazy stereotype of the dead worthless leftover of a previous era. Buffalo is more than abandonment. Give them a positive powerful image to think of when they think Buffalo!
Image is from Buffalo: Architecture in the American Forgotten Land www.buffbuildings.com
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wow, really original, folks. "please send us pictures that confirm every bad stereotype about your city."
after a while, blight porn is just as much an exercise in self-gratification as the other kind.
Well said. This fetishising of decay and making it the "emblem" of cities in transition is boring. And the term "rustbelt" has gone completely stale--throw it out.
I applaud Steel's challenge. Make these cliche-bound folks dizzy with images of elegance, grandeur, classicism and innovation. Abandoned storefront my ass.