New Event Photography Work: The Block Party

There aren’t many sounds I love more than the chime of children’s laughter, clear and pure.

It carries through the air so naturally, like a gentle breeze, dissolving into it. By the time it rolls across my ears, my mind has already traveled back to the vivid memories of my childhood.

Nostalgic. Summer evenings, barefoot in the grass, running through a shared backyard that seemed longer than the Great Wall of China. Children’s laughter makes the world feel lighter, even for a moment.

That was important to me because when I stepped out of the car with my camera and onto the blocked-off street, that collective feeling inspired me as I documented the day. I aimed to capture more than just high-quality photos, but also the essence of the joy and innocence that childhood represents—an essence that, if we’re lucky, stays with us throughout our lives.

Block parties in Detroit often get a bad rap, frequently appearing in news headlines due to injuries or fatalities. The ones I read about were usually illegally held and didn’t go through the proper channels.

However, my friend and his family have lived on this street for decades. Most of their neighbors have done the same, fostering a tight-knit community where everyone is on a first-name basis. Joe was a child when they first started organizing these block parties, one each year except for the period around COVID. They’ve always gone off without a hitch. They go door to door to get permission from each household, work with the city government to set up barricades and ensure the area is patrolled.

The result is a family-fun day filled with games, food, and laughter.

Each house offered its own unique station, creating a vibrant and varied experience. Kids and adults walked and biked from house to house, enjoying shaved ice, face painting, portrait photography stations, and even a mechanical bull!

We strolled up and down the street multiple times, capturing moments, engaging in quick conversations, and sampling the array of delicious food being cooked.

But the real highlight was the epic water balloon fight that erupted at the peak of the event. I'm not exaggerating when I say hundreds of balloons were filled for the kids to toss at each other. With everyone being an open target, I was hesitant to put myself and my camera in the line of fire, so I captured most of the action from the safety of the patio. Eventually, though, I couldn’t resist joining in for a round myself.

I love shooting events like this because you never notice the weight, and the importance of community until you’re away from yours. As we patrolled the neighborhood, memories of my childhood flooded back. In those days, we could be outside all day. Since all the children played together, the parents chaperoned together. They knew you by name, knew which house on which street was yours, and often, a quick holler of your name would echo across blocks.

Those memories left a profound imprint on me, and it was heartwarming to watch them create a similar impact on the children at this event. The most beautiful part was witnessing the adults who shared their childhood memories to craft meaningful moments for the community's future generations.

I hope that when the families look back on these photos, they will remember these moments as vividly and joyously as I experienced them. Capturing these candid family memories through photography is truly a privilege, and I aim to preserve the essence of these special days for years to come.