Olympics

Olympic legacy

/ mikeosbornphoto / 8 Comments

Two years ago the eyes of the world were on London for the Olympic Games. A neglected area of the city was redeveloped to host the event, which was deemed a huge success.

After the action has finished, it’s easy for facilities to fall into disuse. There’s little sign of that in London. The area has been turned into a playground for the city, with beautifully sculpted walkways where everyone is free to roam.

It has great architectural interest with the amazing curves of the Aquatic Centre, designed by Britain’s high priestess of building design, Zaha Hadid. It sits near Orbit, a thrusting artistic twist of metal created by Anish Kapoor. And the athletes’ village has been turned over to private residential use.

This is a place that visitors want to explore, long after the buzz of Olympic competition left the arena. Here’s a portrait of the park captured one afternoon in both its might, detail and as a people’s place.

Click first image for the full gallery experience

The Photo Shop

In the Olympic Stadium’s shadow

/ mikeosbornphoto / 4 Comments

The opening ceremony has taken place and the Olympic competition is under way at London 2012.

A few days earlier, I made an attempt to get close to the Olympic Park in east London, but with no ticket nor accreditation, it was a failed mission. So I went to an area just to the west of Stratford called Hackney Wick, which sits near the stadium. The massive centrepiece of the games was just on the other side of the canal, but the path was heavily guarded.

This corner of east London is very urban, filled with light industry and warehouses. There are some canalside residences and a surprising number of cafes and restaurants, not to mention a lot of colourful wall murals brightening up the inner city brickwork. It’s not swish, it isn’t sleek, but I sensed that life was carrying on regardless of the massive global event brewing in the neighbourhood.

People were still going about their business in small factories and yards, and there was even a model being photographed, glamorous against the painted bricks.

I’m sure the residents could hear every beat of Friday night’s impressive opening ceremony, but maybe it’s simply business as usual next to the Olympic Stadium.

Click on the images to enlarge

                                     

Pretty in pink

/ mikeosbornphoto / 10 Comments

London’s iconic Tower Bridge in all its glory on a summer’s evening. Just days before the start of the Olympics, it is being illuminated in various colours to mark the imminent arrival of the games. Just after this pink and light purple show was a patriotic burst of red, white and blue.

I was a bit too early to see the Olympic rings unfurl from the top of the bridge – they’ll be on display and lit up in the evenings during the games. Coming back to capture this on another warm, pleasant evening will be anything but a drag.

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London pride

Olympic colours

/ mikeosbornphoto / 2 Comments

The Diamond Jubilee has been and gone, and now attentions in London and the UK turn to the Olympics, just weeks away.

Our travels took us to St Pancras train station, the place to catch a Eurostar train direct to Europe.

It’s a thoroughly modernised travel hub, sat beneath a beautiful Victorian canopy which is an object of desire for architects, engineers and photographers alike.

A vast set of Olympic rings is suspended from the roof and is being photographed crazily.

I did my best to find a slightly offhand angle and perspective for this colourful capture.

But if you click on the thumbnail beneath this large depiction, you will see how the emblem looks to the regular eye.

Like the Union Jack during the Jubilee period, just how often will this Olympic symbol grace images in the coming weeks?