Orientation

Looking through the archive of this project I came across a couple of rare photos taken from outside the site on the night discussed below. They were shot from the Greenway while I waited for darkness to fall so that I could get in unnoticed. Before entering the site I usually 'case the joint' each time, especially if there is a vantage point nearby. Although at the time setting up my tripod in full view seemed crazy, in hindsight there must be a fairly constant stream of photographers both amateur and professional doing the same, from exactly this position.


I am writing this to give you the reader a clearer picture of the space I described below, especially for those of you who are not familiar with the area. I have stitched the two photos together, and they handily provide a complete overview of everything I mentioned in the previous post. On the far left of the image you can see the pavement of what used to be Marshgate Lane, and it's from here that I entered the scene. The first image below, with the bleached out rubble, was shot just beyond the large yellow digger in the centre. The second just this side of the same JCB: you can see the blue tanks and even the puddle which feature in it. The last shot was taken on the rubble in the foreground, in front of the right-hand brick hut, which was the last thing to be demolished in that particular area, probably because it contained part of the power supply to the building. In the distance, beyond the two bright floodlights, you may just be able make out two green portacabins. This was where the silhouettes of security and workmen were hanging out, and it was from here that I was spotted.

I'm not quite sure why I've written this post, it feels like I'm trying to offer you proof of my credibility, or trying to rival the ODA's own assertions of 'transparency'. Perhaps it's because I was briefly taken with this virtual tour that the official London 2012 website offers. In fact, in recent times the official website has been on something of an imagery charm offensive. They have installed an array of webcams, and despite the fact that are only uploading intermittent stills from them, have done some stitching of their own, creating this time lapse video in August last year. I can't help feeling slightly depressed at being so thoroughly beaten at my own game by the official image merchants, and in a delusionally self-important fashion slightly responsible for the sudden onslaught of real photographs that have replaced the emphasis on virtual impressions that dominated early on.

The thing which disturbs me most though is the comment section of the blog posts, which are chock full of enthusiastic well wishers damning the sceptics and the cynics. I can't help but feel suspicious of the near propagandist tone of the comments. Yes, I know, probably just me being paranoid again. I'll return to the normal post format soon.