'Losing the Banks' - River Thames, London

Following the financial collapse of the banking system and standing in the shadow of those banking institutions, the opposing bank of the River Thames seemed like a distant place. Seemingly unaffected by the financial turmoil and it's knock on effects, it was a scene of demolition and rebuilding. Multiple sites were busy with the demolition of old industry and the building of new housing projects, that were spreading outwards from Greenwich along the peninsula towards the Millenium Dome. Buyers were looking at plans to purchase flats with superb views across the river, whilst locals were feeling disgruntled at their views being obstructed. Footpaths were closed and diverted, old ways of life and river working were being relocated and the banks of the Thames were slowly being lost. Dog walkers, joggers, artists, anglers, beachcombers, lovers, ramblers and nature watchers were Losing the Banks................

All photographs taken for this project were shot using a Holga 120 CFN, 'toy camera' or  a Rolleicord dating from 1954, the majority are from the Holga..........

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Holga

There are many reasons why the Holga was a suitable camera choice, not least as it is very light in transit, being made entirely from plastic....including the lens!! It has the most basic of settings including four focus points ranging from 1m to infinity and two aperture settings, sunny and cloudy, however due to a manufacturing oversight it actually means that only one aperture is available, roughly f/13. The camera also represents a time when photography didn't offer the instant ability to review the photos taken, a time when the photographic process was a whole lot slower and more measured. In relation to the speed at which the river banks were being developed and on a personal level, I was yearning for such an era of less haste.