Bill Buchanan, HonPSA, FGDC
October 2026 - Renaissance Center
About the Image(s)
Last month our club had a walking tour of downtown Detroit. This composition originally appeared on the cover of the 1977 PSA International Conference Program which was held in Detroit.
I have wanted for years to photograph the same composition but each time I tried there was a truck parked in front of the building. This time there wasn't a truck but the overhead arms of the traffic lights were a distraction. Reflect app to the rescue.
The image was photographed with my iPhone 17 Pro Max using Adobe Project Indigo app as a RAW image. It was processed using Lightroom Mobile, and the app Reflect added the water reflection. It was then imp[orted into Photoshop where it was sharpened with Topaz Photo AI and resized.
5 comments posted
Hi Bill,
The Detroit Remaissance center and the naked woman statue are very sharp and beautiful.
Although the water reflection works with the context of a nude sculpture, seeing floodwaters surrounding a building significantly increases psychological distress for viewers. The big building represents workplace, as well as security and stability. Seeing floodwaters might shatter this sense of safety.
I'd prefer to see a little separation of water around the building. Thanks for sharing your creativity! Posted: 10/05/2026 13:06:58
The Detroit Remaissance center and the naked woman statue are very sharp and beautiful.
Although the water reflection works with the context of a nude sculpture, seeing floodwaters surrounding a building significantly increases psychological distress for viewers. The big building represents workplace, as well as security and stability. Seeing floodwaters might shatter this sense of safety.
I'd prefer to see a little separation of water around the building. Thanks for sharing your creativity! Posted: 10/05/2026 13:06:58
At first the image grabs my attention - but then I agree with Kieu-Hanh that it causes some distress given the unusual juxtaposition of water, trees and the skyline. You succeeded in covering up the foreground; but that came with a cost. I like how the water blends into the sky on the right side. The greenery in the upper right corner is a bit distracting; I'd be inclined to remove it. Posted: 10/06/2026 07:08:39
I used to use apps like this on the desktop; they can certainly make for some interesting and creative images! And you removed distracting elements at the same time.
As the commenters above me posted, the flood filter does sometimes elicit unexpected reactions. Posted: 10/12/2026 18:14:54
As the commenters above me posted, the flood filter does sometimes elicit unexpected reactions. Posted: 10/12/2026 18:14:54
First reaction. Wow! What an image. The sky. The reflection.
Second reaction - how can this be? Are you sitting at the edge of an infinity pool in front of the building so it looks like the water is up to the edge of the building. Then I reread your description more carefully.
I'd love to see the original image so I can see what was actually between you and statue and the building. Posted: 10/13/2026 14:46:20
Second reaction - how can this be? Are you sitting at the edge of an infinity pool in front of the building so it looks like the water is up to the edge of the building. Then I reread your description more carefully.
I'd love to see the original image so I can see what was actually between you and statue and the building. Posted: 10/13/2026 14:46:20
I applaud your use of a creative solution to the problematic distractions in the original image. It does feel a bit confusing though, but maybe if you expanded on Susan's idea of an infinity pool in front of the building? I really like the juxtaposition of the straight lines of the buildings, the greenery, and the artful lines of the statue. Very nice. Posted: 10/27/2026 21:39:00