Author- photographer portrays Detroit’s hidden gems, obscure sites

In her Detroit Revealed: A Different View of the Motor City, author-photographer Leslie Cieplechowicz highlights the obscure and amazing hidden gems of the city which is sometimes portrayed as unapproachable. The imagery highlights places only seen by local people who have created a rich culture and scenery that is veiled from the public eye.

"I wanted to share my view of the city," she said.

Cieplechowicz worked as an EMS paramedic for the Detroit Fire Department. She returned to the sites of former EMS encounters to capture the images, all 4,000 of them. 150 best pictures made it into the book.

"I captured the heart of the city and the people," she said. "I put a positive spin on a city that gets a negative reputation."

The book serves as a city guide for both locals and visitors with its stunning imagery, history of the sites, and addresses.

"You can visit all the places," she said.

Walk along the radiant blue riverfront of the Detroit River and view the beautiful structures glittering in the sunlight. Hang out at the hole-in-the-wall local bar and absorb the glow from the antique fixture that bathes the vintage decor in a warm light.

Head to the streets in a snowstorm, and peer through a broken window down Jefferson Avenue at a city shrouded in swirling white flakes. Or check out an old, dimly lit industrial center that has been turned into an enclave for local singers and artists to hone their talent, whose studios are a splash of faded records, flashing neon lights, and vibrant flags.

 

Listen in for a chance to win a signed copy of this book.

 

Sponsored by Doc Chavent and The Lowell Ledger