The
Craig Fahle
Show

Immortalizing
Jewish Detroit

JN partners with photographer for a
photo-documentary on Jewish Detroit.

I

Jackie Headapohl

Enter Corbin's latest project: docu-
menting the Jewish community in
Detroit, Oak Park and Southfield
enny Corbin prefers to look
through his photojournalism. Corbin
at the world through the lens
approached the Jewish News to partner
of a camera. Corbin, 28, has
with him and publish his photo essays
been documenting his vision through
on the subject.
photography for nine years,
"I really want to show the
four of those years in New
difference between each com-
York.
munity. I started contacting
He has a history of turn-
p• people — old and young
ing his camera toward
— and it's been really good
unique subjects, such as
so far:' says Corbin, who has
his recent project to docu-
photographed Rabbi Herschel
Finman while taping his
ment the shoeshine men
of Detroit, which he did in
radio talk show and teaching
haunting black-and-white
at his house in Oak Park, and
Kenny Co rbin,
pictures that blur time.
Borenstein's Book and Music
aka Karpo v the
Corbin graduated from
store in Oak Park, among
Wrecked T rain
Dondero High School in
others so far.
Royal Oak in 2003 and then went to
"I want to show the old and new —
Oakland Community College, where he
the people who stayed in the city and
earned a degree in art history and fine
the people who moved to the suburbs
art. He graduated in 2006 with hopes of and find out the reasons why:' Corbin
becoming an art teacher, but then got a
says. "I don't want anything posed. I
call from Atlantic Records in New York. want to document the everyday life of
When Corbin was 17, he worked as
everyday people:'
a member of Atlantic Records' Street
Corbin's ultimate goal is to launch
Team, promoting events and arranging
a photography magazine, similar to
meet-and-greets with artists. Soon after
GUP — Guide to Unique Photography
graduation, he got a call out of the blue
published in the Netherlands. "It's some-
from the label offering him a job in New
thing I've always wanted. There is no
York. "I said, 'Of course, I'll take it' Who
magazine like this published in the U.S.,"
wouldn't?" Corbin says.
says Corbin, who says he's been saving
At age 19, Corbin began showing his
up for years to make his dream a reality.
photography under the name "Karpov
He plans to launch a Kickstarter cam-
the Wrecked Train:' Karpov is a nod
paign to fund the project this spring.
to his passion for all things Russian.
He envisions the magazine featur-
ing his work and the work of other
"Wrecked Train" is his favorite mus-
ician, only spelled differently. "I put
photographers; each issue would focus
them together and used the name for
on a single theme. "I expect it to be 90
my first gallery opening in New York:'
percent photo-driven:' he says. "I want
he says. "The name generated a lot of
people to look at the photographs and
interest, and it stuck:'
get the stories from those photos:'
The first theme of the magazine will
After two years at Atlantic Records
and several years at an art gallery in
be his Jewish Detroit project, and it
Soho, Corbin moved back to Detroit in
will include many of the photos he will
2009, where he's been doing freelance
showcase in his continuing series in the
work and working on his photography
Jewish News.
projects. Nearing the end of his shoe-
"By having the photos in the JN, I
shine documentary project, he began
feel that people who might not have
looking for something new.
been open to the project might be more
Corbin's girlfriend, Alyssa Baron-
welcoming:' says Corbin, who seeks to
Klask, a stop-motion animation and
document the observant to the secular
graphic artist, attends services at the
— "every facet I can find:'
Isaac Agree Downtown Synagogue in
Look for photo essays from Corbin
Detroit. Corbin, who is not Jewish,
in future issues of the Jewish News.
accompanied her several times. "I
To participate in his project, contact
enjoyed it:' he says, "and got interested
Corbin at karpov thewreckedtrain@
in Detroit's Jewish community:'
gmail.com.

Managing Editor

K

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February 21 • 2013

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