Urban Wasteland, a photo from London, England

Photographer's Note

The Lea Valley is a place that you will become very familiar with in the year 2012. Though at the moment parts of it look decidedly run down - a post industrial rubbish dump.

This picture is another view of the Pura food processing plant in Docklands, London. The plant itself is on the horizon behind the Docklands Light Railway train which is passing by. Behind me there is a vehicle testing station where cars get their annual certificate of safety. I guess that any tyres which are not road worthy are just thrown over the wall and collect at the side of the river - as can be seen here - there are also a large number of tyres piled up along the walkway where I am standing.

This area is due for some redevelopment over the next 10 years. Many of the industrial buildings have been vacated. This location is perhaps 1-2 miles from the Olympic village which is being constructed and less than 1 mile from Canary Wharf (upmarket commercial offices). It also has very good transport links - so start saving your money if you want to afford a flat in this area.

Burnham, Paolo, kclai has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

jamie_holden (882) 2005-12-06 11:04

Gorgeous colours and good subject - just a shame the picture tilts to the left.

kensimage (8563) 2005-12-06 11:06

I like how your fall-color theme fits with the atmosphere of decay and decline in the area (though from your note, the future will be quite different.) The clouds and golden grass could be excerpted from some beautiful prairie image, so this shot emphasizes what we have done to the land. Regards, Ken.

Burnham (2428) 2005-12-06 11:09

Exellent colours David. The whole composition is great aswell. I really like clouds, and the colour and texture of the ones your caught are beautiful. Good work, your note is useful too.

teacozie (1377) 2005-12-06 11:10

Yo David!

Yep, great colour's and layering. I like how you have given us layers of interest, starting with the tyres, then shrubs then to the skyline, sky, etc... it's a multi level photograph. No complaints, a very interesting shot!

Cheers!

Paolo (41258) 2005-12-06 11:37

Hi David, what a fantastic shhot!
excellent composition with strong colours and strong contrast.
the sky seems something from a movie about Armageddon!
great POV and focus and a "beautiful" view on that wasteland!
excellent shot.

thanks, ciao

saki_makedon (0) 2005-12-06 11:50

Hello David

Crazy sky, crazy colours, crazy pic.
I like it a lot.

Cheers
Saki Makedon

Lukasso (645) 2005-12-06 13:03

Never did I suspect that the trashes can look really nice and be aesthetic;). Well done. Composition is great, colors splendid.

ptibelo (3380) 2005-12-06 16:45 [Comment]

Show Comment

Porteplume (4036) 2005-12-27 16:35

Bonjour David,

I especially like the way you adjusted the lighting. It gives an extra dimension to the dramatic effect of the loaded sky and the abandonned tires.

In a way such a picture makes me think of some photos by Peyer/homerhomer, like this one for example, where the pollution problematic is imaged the same way as you did here with that "sulphurous and "poisonned" air in background".

* Have a good continuation of your Winter Holidays and I wish you Peace, Joy & Health for 2006

Amicalement - Viviane

krakowiak (4762) 2006-02-22 11:01

Hello David!!!
Great composition and gorgeous colours & the quality of this photo is extremly good!

Best Regards,
Pawel

Laz (8) 2011-01-30 11:37

I love the value of how these tires seem to be just out of sight, and how mother nature shelters even the trash in our lives. The "doom and gloom" in the sky help with the ominous value and nature of our ways on earth.

Excellent highlights and composition.