The view less seen, London

[Lilserenity]

I posted this one in the OM thread but well, sometimes you take a picture and you like it, it works as a photograph and it ticks all your boxes. Sometimes I think you take a picture and you really connect with it, these are a rare thing. I have already started very tentatively on my next project (even though the Milton Keynes book isn't out for another 2 weeks.) Anyway enough guff.

Beckton Alps, Beckton, East London



I have been drawn to this view for some time as it's one of the few places apart from the high rise flats where you can get an elevated view of east London, there's the A13 which is a strong visual spine, but there is that wonderful sense of this being an 'edgeland', the city of London is about 7-8 miles away. For a wider lens I would have also captured the Isle of Dogs/Canary Wharf, the Thames and the sprawling ExCeL complex at Royal Albert Dock.

I can connect with the two lads sitting out looking across all of this, but at the same time I still feel like an outsider, a curious one at that.

 

[jesse1dog]

Been up and down the road and agree about the odd feeling of being 'on the edge' - does anybody really belong there?

jesse

 

[Snowbuzz]

Love this photo. I get the feeling.

 

[Lilserenity]

Been up and down the road and agree about the odd feeling of being 'on the edge' - does anybody really belong there?

I'm sure they do, but that's part of the exploring this landscape that I shall be delving into. I think I still feel closer to understanding life in these parts than the craziness in Central London itself which is utterly baffling at the best of times (the money, the possessions, the property, the often sterile nature of connections -- world's apart from where I live.)

Love this photo. I get the feeling.

Thanks! It is about feeling.

 

[Paulbe]

That IS an excellent photo!
The white posts or columns seem to be a barrier--beyond which lies--who knows?!
Also--very interesting to see a picture of London without any of the icons.
Thanks for posting...
Paul

 

[robert blu]

First i liked this photo for the feeling I received, but not sure why. Than looking again I found interesting things to see and to imagine about. Like the car waiting at the traffic light, the two (very small) people on the pavement, and the sky...yes, the sky is important...
robert

 

[jan normandale]

In my very limited experience Europe seems to have 'sharper delineations' between planned areas of urban development than North America and the US is pretty free wheeling when it comes to zoning so the lines are more blurred. Finding defined edges in the UK might be a little easier than in the US.

BTW... I'm likely off target but those two look like graffiti writers.. I'm guessing they'd be polite but never say a thing if you engaged them. Why are they there... "they're just waiting for a friend" ..

 

[Lilserenity]

That IS an excellent photo!
The white posts or columns seem to be a barrier--beyond which lies--who knows?!
Also--very interesting to see a picture of London without any of the icons.
Thanks for posting...
Paul

Wow thanks Paul. I like your thoughts on the white posts, I think they're probably some form of reinforcement as this is an old toxic spoil heap (which has been landscaped, a little...) and was prone to slipping. But I like the observation that it reinforces the precipice nature of the view and the lads looking out.

First i liked this photo for the feeling I received, but not sure why. Than looking again I found interesting things to see and to imagine about. Like the car waiting at the traffic light, the two (very small) people on the pavement, and the sky...yes, the sky is important...
robert

I was quite surprised how much detail the cheapy Kodak Gold caught in this picture myself. Skies are always important to me!

In my very limited experience Europe seems to have 'sharper delineations' between planned areas of urban development than North America and the US is pretty free wheeling when it comes to zoning so the lines are more blurred. Finding defined edges in the UK might be a little easier than in the US.

BTW... I'm likely off target but those two look like graffiti writers.. I'm guessing they'd be polite but never say a thing if you engaged them. Why are they there... "they're just waiting for a friend" ..

In general I think that's true but larger British cities do have a slower 'petering' out, perhaps not quite like Chicago as our green belt polices have had a substantial effect now (basically zones of land that are extremely difficult to get planning permission for.) However, as this project which I am working on will show, there are substantial parts of British cities that are still affected by pre-second world war planning policy which was basically if you owned the land, you had the right to do as you saw fit with it, and massive suburbs developed such as 'Metroland' in North West London and the neverending suburbia of South London, scruffy industry, crap transport etc. That said most British towns and smaller cities come to a more abrupt end mostly due to fears of conurbations growing which is quite easy in a small country. I live in a pretty massive one myself which save for a few small gaps stretches 30 miles of coastline. Geography also plays a big part.

I have always been struck at how abruptly Brighton and Hove slams up against the Downs with the urban scything like a sharp knife along the edge, the A27 across the Downs only compounds this as it works as a belt on the edge.

So the defined edges are perhaps more prevalent than in the US, but the closeness of settlements has an effect for sure.

But those grey areas, those areas that aren't urban, aren't suburban, aren't rural are fascinating, edgelands as they have become known. That's where it gets interesting.

Vicky

 

[MickH]

Edgelands. Have you read the book, Vicky? It might provide further inspiration.

I like this photograph very much, along with some of what you've put on Flickr.

 

[Paulbe]

Lilserenity--(aka Vicky?)--As I mentioned above--I REALLY like the photo and would love to see more.
I've been to London a few times--but never saw those areas.
Really interesting to see a true city of the world in a completely different view.
Thanks again!
Paul

 

[Paulbe]

OOPS!
Vicky--I should have checked your Flickr site first!
Very well done--thanks!
Paul

 

[Lilserenity]

Edgelands. Have you read the book, Vicky? It might provide further inspiration.

I like this photograph very much, along with some of what you've put on Flickr.

I have read it, it's a highly recommended read to anybody else. But my ambition with this next project is place the people back into the edgelands, I don't really want to blab about the next project because well, it's still early days and I want to do this with no pressure on my back, I have to be able to enjoy this first and foremost. But I do hope that I'll be able to explore one of London's best edgelands if you ask me.

Thanks for the compliments, it's nice to know others dig the same kind of viewpoint!

Vicky

 

[Lilserenity]

Lilserenity--(aka Vicky?)--As I mentioned above--I REALLY like the photo and would love to see more.
I've been to London a few times--but never saw those areas.
Really interesting to see a true city of the world in a completely different view.
Thanks again!
Paul

OOPS!
Vicky--I should have checked your Flickr site first!
Very well done--thanks!
Paul

Very much Vicky, Lilserenity is a stupid 'thing' I've been using for about 8 years, sort of Little Serenity but it means nothing, except I still use it as I can remember it 🙂)

London is a huge place, Iain Sinclair wrote an excellent piece called Lights out for the territory which is a superb book exploring London's suburbs. There is a lot of London that like any other major city does not get explored in photography, literature - art in general in fact.

As time goes by there will be more and more London stuff emerging on Flickr for sure.

Although next year I am promising myself another long distance walk in the true countryside (I missed it this year for Tuscany and the previous year I was busy switching jobs and working on Milton Keynes.) It's the one thing that probably keeps me sane as well as burying myself in photography 🙂

Vicky

 

[MickH]

I like this photograph very much, along with some of what you've put on Flickr.

Haha I just reread this. It could be interpreted that I don't like most of what you've put on Flickr. Not the case. 😉

 

[Lilserenity]

Haha I just reread this. It could be interpreted that I don't like most of what you've put on Flickr. Not the case. 😉

Hehe no need to clarify, there's no need to feel obliged that you should like the photos 🙂

Vicky

 

[Turtle]

super shot. LIghting and ambience just right.