Detroit: Against The Wind – An ode to the Midwestern city and its people

In the 1950s Detroit’s population peaked at 1.8 million and today that number is less than 700,000. The city, which is the size of Boston, San Francisco, and Manhattan combined – and could conceivably hold another million people – is instead filled with empty houses and stores. In 2013, the city filed for bankruptcy, $18.5 billion in debt.

Bruce explained: "In spite of the recent widespread 'urban revitalisation' process underway that seems to only affect the central downtown area, Detroit is still in disarray, a partial ghost town with the worst school system in the United States.

"It’s hard to believe that forty years ago this was a major American city, a shining example of the American Middle Class, and a prosperous epicentre of industry and creativity; namely, automobile manufacturing and Motown, the legendary record company."

He added: "Today Detroit is still a very special city. I’m inspired by the beauty in this apocalyptic place, a place that not only breeds violence but also poor education and poverty. It’s a great city that suffers and yet has kept its soul. Detroit’s inhabitants, in their own ways, don’t give up."

Detroit: Against The Wind will run from 17 September – 6 October 2016 at the Leica Gallery Mayfair, 34 Bruton Street, London, W1J 6NR. You can also take part in a unique masterclass by Bruce, details via www.leica-storemayfair.co.uk.

Via direct submission | Main image credit: Untitled. Detroit, USA 2016 © Bruce Gilden / Magnum Photos