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TooLoose-LeTrek's photostream
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I am just a guy with a camera, and I like taking pictures.
I have no training and I'd like to keep it that way. In fact, I have no interest in improving my photography; I figure when it dawns on me that I need to improve, my inner teacher will take care of that. It's really more fun this way, and more in touch with a Zen-like approach to photography, which is what I've developed. No mind,Snap.
I must go alone!
I grew up in and have lived my entire life in the Detroit area. Detroit is my city, and Detroit is in a lot of pain right now. My city photos are meant to bring an awareness of the city and what is going on there. I started exploring Detroit, photographically speaking, nearly seven years ago. Now, many others have joined me. I prefer to explore the neighborhoods where the people live.
Hopefully, things will change.
I know that I go to places I shouldn't go. However, if I didn't, I wouldn't get my pictures.
I find many situations in the inner city that just do not occur out in the burbs, like hijacked car seats propped onto porches that are disassembling themselves over time. Or random household objects (like chairs) placed by fire hydrants, let alone severe levels of destruction and frustration.
Much to the chagrin of those who like to explore my inner city shots, I love visiting cemeteries and spend many hours roaming them, looking for that one shot on that particular day. Cemeteries, to me, are like gardens of remembrance and unfortunately in today's culture, we just as soon dig a hole and drop in our dead and forget them. As might be expected, I am all in favor of festivals like dia de los muertos, the Day of the Dead, a day when the dead truly walk the earth again and meet with their loved ones in an twilight realm of the imagination.
Occasionally I will slip in a photo that is neither death nor destruction, but something that just caught my eye. I would post many more, but such photos are usually passed over by you the viewer. I suppose if you were looking for just plain old regular pictures and you chanced upon my gallery, all the death and destruction would scare you away, anyway.
I hope you enjoy my photos, and don't mind too much the confusing mix of themes and subject matter.
My Facebook: www.facebook.com/tooloose.letrek
I am simple regarding my participation here. Please do NOT post large banners and other self-promotional materials in my photo comment section. If you want to attract others to your site, do so by leaving an insightful message about my photo and hopefully others will be curious about who wrote such a tantalizing comment.
My photos are sometimes selected for the Flickr Explore page. Please...these pages are not an advertising board for you to network with.
I reserve the right to delete any messages with large banners, buttons, or other self-promotional materials. I also do NOT participate in groups that require mandatory interactions. I will delete those sorts of invitations.
Thank you for your understanding in these matters.
Photos of TooLoose-LeTrek (5)
TooLoose-LeTrek's favorite photos from other Flickr members (400)
Contacts (176)
Groups (50)
- American Elegy 8,648 photos, 324 members
- Extreme Street Photography (ESP) 5,031 photos, 14,643 members
- looking in looking out : windows 14,697 photos, 1,918 members
- Shapes. 67 photos, 10 members
- Weekly Photo Challenge 2012 129 photos, 106 members
- Stephen Shore 6,870 photos, 546 members
- William Christenberry Road 2,518 photos, 130 members
- William Eggleston 37,389 photos, 1,913 members
- A Lynch Moment 1,754 photos, 121 members
- Empty Chairs 1,192 photos, 359 members
- Empty Seats 38,850 photos, 7,444 members
- Houses and Homes 58,326 photos, 5,540 members
- urban decline 1,790 photos, 131 members
- Urban Abandonments 14,912 photos, 643 members
- Sign City 158,778 photos, 10,448 members
- Signs, Signs... 83,901 photos, 4,225 members
- Sign, sign, everywhere a sign.... 29,740 photos, 2,041 members
- Fantastic Store Window Displays 5,452 photos, 573 members
- Strange and Unusual Photos 13,770 photos, 986 members
- Loneliness 19,155 photos, 1,623 members
- Ethereal 8,352 photos, 565 members
- █████ ☁ Flickr Anti-Social ☁ █████ 75,691 photos, 4,980 members
- The Best City Images 98,751 photos, 3,342 members
- Decisive Moment 71,315 photos, 16,632 members
- Decisive Moment (HCB Type images) 74 photos, 133 members
- Post Mortem 429 photos, 419 members
- PENTAX smc P-FA 50mm F1.4 5,320 photos, 549 members
- Heidelberg Project 1,302 photos, 169 members
- Stuff On Walls 3,367 photos, 250 members
- Religious Americana 1,356 photos, 158 members
- Kill the Rich and Eat Their Children 252 photos, 112 members
- *Royal Oak & the Cities, towns & villages of Detroit, Michigan 7,664 photos, 635 members
- C H A I R 1,479 photos, 391 members
- Magical places and trees 3,946 photos, 600 members
- 1-2-3 Nature 190,514 photos, 9,390 members
- Skulletons - Skulls and Skeletons 3,590 photos, 735 members
- Skulls 14,895 photos, 3,430 members
- Día de los Muertos 10,082 photos, 1,675 members
- Halloween Nasty 314 photos, 28 members
- HALLOWEEN HORROR 2,462 photos, 468 members
- Halloween and Day of the Dead 2,798 photos, 634 members
- Fabulous Fog 6,504 photos, 1,463 members
- Pentax K-5 Fan Club 21,145 photos, 924 members
- Shining through - Rays of light 3,415 photos, 697 members
- Amazing Sunlight 1,827 photos, 499 members
- PENTAX (SAMSUNG) DSLR Users (3perDay) 128,812 photos, 3,717 members
- Pentax K-5 Photographers 50,320 photos, 1,993 members
- Global Urban Art 238,893 photos, 4,435 members
- Urban Wildlife 39,816 photos, 3,538 members
- Urban Life 83,237 photos, 2,537 members
Testimonials (2)
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Bodhi-U2 says:
"R. is one of my favorite photographers on Flickr. His shots present society as it is with a keen eye delving deeper into underlying motifs. His pictures make me think, have verve while also being understated, drawing the viewer in to experience the photo. Excellent camera eye!
Your work inspires me, friend!"9th July, 2010
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buckshot.jones says:
"TooLoose is a funny guy. His Zen philosophy reminds me of the line from Caddyshack, 'See the picture. Be the picture.' Seriously, TooLoose has one of the most original sets of photos of the Detroit area I have seen. As a life long resident of the area, and one who spent many years working on homes in the city, I can see he has an excellent eye. What comes through in the TooLoose set is a love of the city, not some cheap 'look at the ruins' voyeurism. If you want to see the city, really see it at the neighborhood level, hit the slide show and enjoy the run."
27th August, 2007
















