Ernest Sisson…Detroit, MI

By Doug D. Sims

Before Ernest Sisson ever stepped behind a lens, photography was already woven into his life — not through galleries or textbooks, but through his father’s quiet dedication to documenting their family’s story. With crates of labeled prints, film rolls, and a passion for preserving memories, Sisson’s father became the unofficial archivist of their lives. That legacy, passed down not with words but with images, would eventually inspire Ernest to pick up a camera himself. Now based in Detroit, Sisson captures more than just moments — he captures mood, memory, and meaning, building a visual narrative that blends family, culture, and the gritty soul of the Motor City.

The Lens That Never Lies

When photographer Ernest Sisson picked up a camera for the first time, it wasn’t to chase art or accolades — it was to carry on a legacy. Growing up in Adrian, Michigan, Sisson watched his father carefully catalog birthdays, cookouts, and weddings. His dad, a passionate film photographer, didn’t just take photos; he preserved time. “At any funeral,” Sisson remembers, “people would ask, ‘Does anyone have photos of so-and-so?’ And my dad always did.”

Back then, Sisson didn’t expect photography to become his life. But years later, while working at a car dealership, he felt a pull he couldn’t ignore. “Something just said, go get a camera,” he says. “And that was it.”

What followed wasn’t just a career shift — it was a transformation. Moving to Detroit in 2001 opened Sisson’s eyes to new layers of storytelling. At the time, downtown Detroit was nearly abandoned — empty buildings, shattered windows, echoes of a golden era now left in ruins. “I’d go exploring with my camera — sometimes in the middle of the night,” he says. “I was fascinated. How did this city go from being the crown jewel of American industry to this?”

Among the many decaying structures, one place stood out: Michigan Central Station. Built in 1913, the iconic train depot wasn’t just architectural — it was ancestral. “My mom told me that when she migrated from the South, this was the first place she stepped into,” he says. “For so many Black families, this was the gateway to a better life.” Over the years, Sisson has photographed the building’s decline and resurrection, capturing its transition from ruin to rebirth. “It’s my favorite building in the world,” he says. “To see it brought back to life — it’s full circle.”

That sense of time — what was, what is, and what might be — is a constant in Sisson’s work. He’s known for his striking black-and-white photography, using contrast and light to elevate emotion. “Not every photo deserves black and white,” he explains. “But when the mood is right, when the lines and lighting are perfect, it hits different.”

One of his most personal pieces is a black-and-white portrait of his father wearing a top hat. “He leaned against the wall, and before I even clicked the shutter, I knew — this one is timeless. It shows his essence: a kind man, but strong. No games.”

Family remains central to Sisson’s work. He regularly photographs his parents, his daughters, and everyday scenes many overlook. “Thanks to my dad, I have photos of my entire life,” he says. “Most people don’t. And that’s why I shoot — to make sure our stories are visible, preserved, and passed on.”

Whether capturing portraits, silhouettes, or street scenes, Sisson photographs with purpose. “I always think: thirty years from now, someone’s going to need to see this,” he says. “And I want to be the one who caught it.”

Detroit — raw, creative, evolving — is both his subject and collaborator. Sisson’s portfolio spans gritty alleys and grand events, corporate headshots and backyard joy. “I’ve been in the roughest neighborhoods and the nicest venues, and I get love in both,” he says. “I show joy in places people don’t expect. Because people are people — we laugh, we love, we live — even in the places others try to overlook.”

Navigating the commercial photography world hasn’t always been easy. Sisson has experienced bias firsthand. “There’ve been jobs I didn’t get, and I knew why,” he says. “But one client came back, gave me a second chance — and I nailed the shoot. Now I’m their lead photographer.”

His editing approach is rooted in authenticity. “I’m not going to Photoshop someone into something they’re not,” he says. “I’ll correct the lighting, but I want people to see themselves — their real selves. That’s the art.”

Beyond artistry, Sisson sees his photography as both activism and cultural preservation. “Just being a Black photographer in this space — that’s activism,” he says. “We are artists. We are business owners. We deserve to be seen.”

If his camera had a voice? “It would say: ‘You’re the truth,’” he laughs. “Because when I see the shot — when I hit that final edit — I know.”

And to aspiring photographers, especially those from similar backgrounds, Sisson offers this: “Believe in yourself. Your eye matters. Your perspective matters. Don’t let anyone tell you how to shoot. If it speaks to you, it’ll speak to someone else.”

You can find Ernest Sisson’s work on Instagram at @ErnestSissonPhotograpy and on Facebook at Ernest Sisson Photography. His portfolio includes corporate work, weddings, senior portraits, and Detroit’s ever-changing skyline. A new website for print sales is on the way.

With every click, Sisson doesn’t just take a photo — he tells the truth. And in a world full of noise, that’s what makes his lens unforgettable.