{"id":6918,"date":"2023-03-12T07:00:00","date_gmt":"2023-03-12T07:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.shinola.com\/our-stories\/?p=6918"},"modified":"2023-05-02T13:39:43","modified_gmt":"2023-05-02T13:39:43","slug":"the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/","title":{"rendered":"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
In honor of 313 Day, we sat down with Detroit-based\n photographer and filmmaker Stephen McGee\n to see how the city we call home has evolved\n through his lens over the last 18 years. <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
18 years, 2 million images, thousands of hours of footage, and a journey he could have never planned for. Today his lens is trained on Detroit\u2014sometimes referred to by its area code \u201cThe 313\u201d\u2014but the path to these digits was a long, colorful, and winding road.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Stephen McGee has spent a big part of his life with a camera in his hand. A photojournalist, a filmmaker, and a storyteller, his craft has led him all over the world. Working with non-profit groups in Africa to Southeast Asia and parts of Europe, McGee found inspiration in the impact that storytelling can have on communities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
That work of equipping others with the imagery that helped amplify their important voices left him with a beautiful collection of images from his travels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
He returned home to sunny California with his passion realized. However, McGee began to question his connection to where his current roots were planted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The next day, Detroit called.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
\u201cMovement 2022\u201d, Photo by Stephen McGee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI wasn\u2019t very seasoned, but I had something\n pulling at me internally to get to the deepest\n level of the human experience\u201d <\/pre>\n\n\n\n
FOCUSING ON A NARRATIVE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
With a promising opportunity with the Detroit Free Press, he packed up and headed for the Motor City. \u201cI had never even seen the city, but I just felt compelled to move there. It was the second best decision of my life.\u201d The first? Marrying his wife.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since his arrival, McGee has tirelessly documented Detroit\u2019s metamorphosis, but focused on its present-day brilliance. He\u2019s done this with a love for the city and its people that only continues to grow deeper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe culture of trying to understand this city through content existed well before I arrived in 2005,\u201d he said. \u201cI just joined it.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McGee saw a different side of Detroit that was often narrowly or even negatively portrayed by mass media. \u201cI noticed that creators were more focused on the city\u2019s buildings. It wasn\u2019t hitting any of the positive, beautiful life I was seeing through the people here,\u201d McGee said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Jessica Care Moore and Devone Tines at their performance with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. 2023.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
During this time in Detroit\u2019s history, most outsiders of the city were influenced solely by what they\u2019ve heard, read, or saw in the media. It\u2019s a concept that still lingers today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere\u2019s a popular narrative that Detroit was the best city ever, growing until 1967 and then died\u2014and now is coming back. This narrative glosses over a lot of people who\u2019ve been holding it down on their blocks and in their communities,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s this community of people who inspire him to photograph every day. Although many could view Stephen\u2019s archive of photos and footage as a document of Detroit\u2019s rebirth, he encourages us to see it as an uninterrupted yet evolving storyline.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe momentum that we see is built on a very strong Black culture here that is the reason Detroit is so beautiful today,\u201d he noted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The influx of people, finances, and the shift from \u201cThe Worst City\u201d to \u201cThe Best City\u201d we saw in 2015 was built on the greatness that was already here. It never left; it just wasn\u2019t the story that the national narrative told.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
MORE THAN AN AREA CODE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
After years of documenting Detroit, McGee has found that there\u2019s way more to The 313 that meets the eye.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\u2019s the people who don\u2019t live in the most popular places who offer the greatest sense of hospitality, stewardship, and willingness to teach that I find some of my favorite photographs and stories in,\u201d he adds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Detroit Rollercade 2023<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
For Stephen, time has been his greatest teacher. Every year spent in the city has helped him craft a script that only continues to unfold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
McGee has been a part of many key moments of Detroit\u2019s more recent history\u2014from being the wedding photographer for Kid Rock and Pamela Anderson, to walking the Stanley Cup down Woodward Ave with the iconic Detroit Red Wings captain, Steve Yzerman. However, it\u2019s in those lesser-known moments, like being in the Packard Plant as a group of suburbanites worked together to push out a dump truck out of the storied car factory, that gives him glimpses of the city\u2019s full picture.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThey\u2019re all a part of one story,\u201d said McGee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Finding this story and documenting it plays a crucial part in uplifting Detroit\u2019s evolution.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
David Stott 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
TO BE CONTINUED<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Stephen McGee<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
Stephen\u2019s archive has been a documentation of growth in more ways than one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cMy life in Detroit has yet to see the full realization of why I\u2019m here, but all I know is that it\u2019s becoming less and less about me,\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
His work has become more than a passion for craft; it\u2019s become a life lesson about being a part of a community and growing along with it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThis city has taught me that life is all about serving others with the tools you\u2019ve got at the best of your ability every single day, whether it\u2019s easy or not,\u201d noted McGee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But this story is far from over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThere is still so much to unfold through the people with fresh eyes and excitement for the city and those who have been here for a lifetime. The opportunity to challenge common narratives with real stories to widen the outside perspective on Detroit will always be a part of my life,\u201d he concluded.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hearing Stephen\u2019s dedication and passion in crafting this story reminds us of what being a part of Detroit\u2019s community is all about. On this 313 Day\u2014March 13 (3\/13)\u2014we want to share our gratitude for this city and the greatness that existed long before our arrival. The story of Detroit is well underway and it\u2019s an honor to be a part of it, alongside advocates like McGee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Keep up with Stephen\u2019s photographs and project updates on his Instagram @resurgofilm<\/a> and @Stephen_McGee<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
My daughter Jovi, at age 3, 2015<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
In honor of 313 Day, we sat down with Detroit-based photographer and filmmaker Stephen McGee to see how the city we call home has evolved through his lens over the last 18 years. 18 years, 2 million images, thousands of hours of footage, and a journey he could have never planned for. Today his lens […]<\/p>\n
Read More…<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":72,"featured_media":6920,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[117],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\nThe 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"In honor of 313 Day, we sat down with Detroit-based photographer and filmmaker Stephen McGee to see how the city we call home has evolved through his lens over the last 18 years. 18 years, 2 million images, thousands of hours of footage, and a journey he could have never planned for. Today his lens [...]Read More...\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Our Stories\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2023-03-12T07:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2023-05-02T13:39:43+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&fit=scale&h=579&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1024&wpsize=large\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1024\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"579\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Danielle Zito\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"6 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/\",\"name\":\"Our Stories\",\"description\":\"A journal by Shinola dedicated to THE joy of craft\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":\"required name=search_term_string\"}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#primaryimage\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&ixlib=php-3.3.0\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&ixlib=php-3.3.0\",\"width\":1920,\"height\":1086},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#webpage\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/\",\"name\":\"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#primaryimage\"},\"datePublished\":\"2023-03-12T07:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2023-05-02T13:39:43+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#\/schema\/person\/8255b5793814808d16b42b9b66c787ca\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Home\",\"item\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee\"}]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#\/schema\/person\/8255b5793814808d16b42b9b66c787ca\",\"name\":\"Danielle Zito\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"@id\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#personlogo\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"url\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52931b992dca48a5d70ec4a9b31ec9af?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52931b992dca48a5d70ec4a9b31ec9af?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Danielle Zito\"},\"url\":\"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/author\/dzito\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories","og_description":"In honor of 313 Day, we sat down with Detroit-based photographer and filmmaker Stephen McGee to see how the city we call home has evolved through his lens over the last 18 years. 18 years, 2 million images, thousands of hours of footage, and a journey he could have never planned for. Today his lens [...]Read More...","og_url":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/","og_site_name":"Our Stories","article_published_time":"2023-03-12T07:00:00+00:00","article_modified_time":"2023-05-02T13:39:43+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1024,"height":579,"path":"2023\/03\/hero_banner-1024x579.png","url":"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&fit=scale&h=579&ixlib=php-3.3.0&w=1024&wpsize=large","size":"large","id":6920,"alt":"","pixels":592896,"type":"image\/png"}],"twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Danielle Zito","Est. reading time":"6 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#website","url":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/","name":"Our Stories","description":"A journal by Shinola dedicated to THE joy of craft","potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":"required name=search_term_string"}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#primaryimage","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&ixlib=php-3.3.0","contentUrl":"https:\/\/shinola-wordpress.imgix.net\/2023\/03\/hero_banner.png?auto=format&ixlib=php-3.3.0","width":1920,"height":1086},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#webpage","url":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/","name":"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee - Our Stories","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#primaryimage"},"datePublished":"2023-03-12T07:00:00+00:00","dateModified":"2023-05-02T13:39:43+00:00","author":{"@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#\/schema\/person\/8255b5793814808d16b42b9b66c787ca"},"breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/"]}]},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/the-313-archives-with-stephen-mcgee\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Home","item":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"The 313 Archives with Stephen McGee"}]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#\/schema\/person\/8255b5793814808d16b42b9b66c787ca","name":"Danielle Zito","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/#personlogo","inLanguage":"en-US","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52931b992dca48a5d70ec4a9b31ec9af?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/52931b992dca48a5d70ec4a9b31ec9af?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Danielle Zito"},"url":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/author\/dzito\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6918"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/72"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6918"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6918\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6942,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6918\/revisions\/6942"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6920"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6918"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6918"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/ourstories.shinola.com\/our-stories\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6918"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}