A student photographer wandered the streets of Detroit with a camera in 1972, then left the negatives in storage for four decades. Now they're an award-winning exhibition, and that teaches us something profound about viewing our old work

In 1972, a 24-year-old photography student named Dave Jordano wandered the streets of Detroit with a 35mm film camera, capturing a substantial body of work over the course of a year. However, he only printed a few images and kept the negatives in storage for decades. In 2013, when he discovered them again, he was surprised to find an impressive collection of shots. Titled "The Year I Arrived," these images have now been featured in an award-winning exhibition on the All About Photo website throughout October.

Looking back at these photographs, one can see a city in transition. Although Jordano's shots don't directly focus on the societal changes that were taking place, such as the aftermath of the 1967 riots, they do provide a glimpse into the everyday lives of Detroiters. His lens captures people going about their daily routines, such as young women sitting outside an electrical store in Greektown, an anti-war rally featuring Jane Fonda and Tom Hayden, and a small child in Sterling Heights holding a purse as the suburbs around Detroit were rapidly developing.

What sets Jordano's work apart is his direct approach to street photography. Unlike many photographers who work from a distance, he engaged with his subjects, and many of them looked directly into the camera. This level of directness creates a unique atmosphere in his images, which is often missing in other street photography.