Photography Categories
Detroit is a city of compelling contrasts and powerful stories, reflected in its people, its structures, and its undeniable connection to the automobile. To celebrate these diverse facets, Detroit Photo Crew focuses on specific themes or categories for our monthly showcases and friendly competitions. These categories provide a framework for exploring the city through different lenses and encourage members to capture the multifaceted spirit of Detroit. Engaging with these themes helps us build a rich, collective portrait of the Motor City, highlighting both iconic landmarks and intimate, everyday moments. We encourage you to explore each category and find inspiration for your next photographic adventure.
Each month (or specified period), we invite submissions targeting one or more of our core categories. Whether you're a seasoned photographer or just starting out, this is a great opportunity to challenge yourself, share your work, and see how others interpret the same themes. Before uploading your work, please ensure it aligns with the category description and meets the guidelines outlined on our Rules page. Ready to share? Head over to the Submit page to upload your entries. We rotate themes and sometimes introduce special categories, so check back often! Your participation is what makes this community vibrant.
Category: People
Detroit's story is fundamentally about its people – their resilience, diversity, creativity, and spirit. This category invites photographs that focus on the human element within the city. Capture compelling portraits, candid street moments, people interacting with their environment, individuals at work or leisure, or scenes from community events and cultural celebrations. Think about capturing emotion, character, and connection. From the crowds at Eastern Market to a quiet moment on Belle Isle, showcase the faces and figures that define Detroit. We're looking for images that tell a human story, reflecting the life and energy pulsating through the city's veins.
Category: Buildings
From soaring Art Deco skyscrapers to historic factories, grand theaters to neighborhood bungalows, Detroit's architecture tells a dramatic story of ambition, decline, and rebirth. This category focuses on the built environment. We welcome images that showcase iconic landmarks like the Guardian Building or the Fisher Building, explore the textures and details of historic structures, document ongoing preservation efforts, or find beauty in industrial landscapes. Consider different perspectives, lighting conditions, and compositions. Capture the grandeur, the grit, the intricate details, or the sweeping cityscapes that define Detroit's unique architectural identity. Show us the structures that shape the city's skyline and hold its history.
Category: Cars
You can't talk about Detroit without talking about cars. The Motor City's identity is inextricably linked to the automobile. This category celebrates that connection in all its forms. Capture the chrome gleam of classic cars during the Woodward Dream Cruise, find artistic angles on modern vehicles against urban backdrops, document the legacy of the auto industry, or explore the culture surrounding car customization and cruising. Show us Detroit's relationship with the automobile, we're looking for creative compositions that highlight the design, power, history, and cultural significance of cars in Detroit.