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Ryan Southen Photography

  • Detroit
  • Architecture
  • Aerial
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Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the main lobby covered in snow.

Michigan Central Station - 2007 Photographs

June 28, 2024

In preparation for Ford’s reopening of Michigan Central Station earlier this month, I went back through the archives all the way to 2007 when I had first picked up a camera and was exploring photography as a creative outlet. This was long before I had begun to shoot professionally, so traipsing around abandoned buildings in Detroit was a fun way to hone my skills, and there was nothing more magnificent than Michigan Central Station.

I look back on my time in this place and I know it was these moments that pushed me into a career as a photographer and spurred a passion for architectural photography. Even in a state of abandonment you could feel the grandeur and I loved being able to capture that and share it with people who had no idea what was beyond the imposing limestone facade.

I was fortunate enough to spend time on three of the first four days that the station was open to the public. I couldn’t get enough of it and those images will come in my next blog post. For now, enjoy some photographs from 2007 when I was just starting out.

Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows snow angels being made in the snow.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the lobby and the vaulted ceiling.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the ceiling and lobby windows.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the ticket lobby from atop the ticket office.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the ticket lobby looking towards the east entrance.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the ticket lobby looking towards where the old clock used to be.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the ticket lobby with dramatic light.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image is a portrait taken from atop the ticket office.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image is a self portrait taken in the ticket lobby.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the exterior columns at the top of the train station.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image is a self portrait taken from the top of the train station.
Architectural and interior photograph taken at Michigan Central in Detroit, Michigan restored by Ford, Quinn Evans Architects, PAU, and Mikyoung Kim. This image shows the concourse of the train station.

Springtime in Lafayette Park

June 6, 2024

Lafayette Park is a midcentury collection of residential buildings designed by Mies van der Rohe. It is a mix of townhomes, courtyard homes and residential towers with the most celebrated buildings being designed by Mies but also including a tower designed by Gunnar Birkerts with the landscape being designed by Ludwig Hilberseimer.

I may be biased since I call this place home, but there are few places in Detroit that shine so beautifully as Lafayette Park in the spring. I also tend to say the same thing when it comes to the other seasons but it is definitely a place worth visiting if you are an architecture buff.

Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured are the hawthorne hedges and a blooming tree.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a residential building surrounded by blooms.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a blooming tree with a townhome in the background.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a birdhouse in front of someone's home.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a tree blooming with a one story courtyard unit in the background.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a brilliant maple tree with a townhome in the background.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a Japanese maple with a residential building behind it.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a sidewalk leading to a residential building.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a townhome building with a maple in the foreground.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a sidewalk that leads between buildings in the neighborhood.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is one of the apartment buildings with blooms in the foreground.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is one of the courtyard units with blooms in the foreground.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is a Japanese maple in front of a courtyard unit.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan and features Mies van der Rohe’s designs in Lafayette Park. Pictured is Bedrock Detroit's Book Tower peaking through neighborhood blooms.

Aerial Photographs From Belle Isle

June 6, 2024
Architectural and fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. The aerial photo was taken with a drone and shows Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline in the background.
Architectural and fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. The aerial photo was taken with a drone and shows the James Scott Memorial Fountain on Belle Isle with the Detroit skyline in the background.

Oudolf Garden Detroit: Boardwalk Update

June 6, 2024

With support from the Erb Foundation, Oudolf Garden Detroit is currently building an ADA accessible boardwalk to give visitors another way to experience Piet Oudolf’s incredible design on Belle Isle. Garden goers will be able to sit at two different locations on the boardwalk and it will feature a meadow style planting design by Piet Oudolf to complement his matrix garden beds and rain garden.

Fundraising efforts are still ongoing to purchase the plants that will occupy the meadow. If you are interested in supporting the effort you can sponsor plants at oudolfgardendetroit.org.

Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the foundations being laid for the boardwalk.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows workers laying the foundation for the boardwalk.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the boardwalk framed out.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the boardwalk in the context of the meadow.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image was taken from a drone and shows foundation progress.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the work being done with the Detroit skyline in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the boardwalk after deck installation.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows the boardwalk with the Nancy Brown Peace Carillon.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image provides a sun drenched view of the garden with the conservatory glowing in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows progress on the boardwalk with the conservatory in the background.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image shows work continuing on the boardwalk.
Architectural and landscape design photograph of Oudolf Garden Detroit designed by Dutch Master Piet Oudolf. This image features the garden's newest resident, a cute baby Canadian Goose.

Detroit Architectural Photography - 4/16/2024

June 6, 2024
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image features Hudson's Detroit designed by SHoP Architects and developed by Bedrock Detroit. Here you are peering between buildings in the Paradise Valley District.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image features the Siren Hotel and Monarch Club in downtown Detroit.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows downtown and the People Mover.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows some of the setbacks of Hudson's Detroit designed by SHoP Architects and developed by Bedrock Detroit.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows the Book Tower which was redeveloped by Bedrock Detroit with help from ODA Architecture.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows the building facades of Broadway Avenue downtown.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows The Block building that is part of Hudson's Detroit which is developed by Bedrock Detroit and designed by SHoP Architects.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows One Woodward which was designed by Minoru Yamasaki and operated by Bedrock Detroit.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows many of the buildings that you can see from the Paradise Valley district downtown.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image features the Penobscot Building as seen from the Paradise Valley historic district.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows how Hudson's Detroit impacts the skyline. The building is being developed by Bedrock Detroit and designed by SHoP Architects.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows some of the ads being displayed for the NFL Draft.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image shows the sun dramatically reflecting off of Hudson's Detroit which is being developed by Bedrock Detroit and designed by SHoP Architects.
Architectural and cityscape fine art photograph taken in Detroit, Michigan. This image prominently features the Penobscot Building as seen from Lafayette Park.
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