IN A LONG-TERM PHOTOGRAPHIC PROJECT, I AM DOCUMENTING THE REMAINS OF WILDERNESS IN SEVERAL LARGE CITIES. THE LEA VALLEY IN LONDON, U.K. ATTRACTED ME BECAUSE THE LEA RIVER HAS BEEN TRANSFORMING EVER SINCE THE RIVER LEA ACT OF 1766 WAS ENACTED TO ACCOMMODATE BOAT TRAFFIC TO AND FROM LOCAL INDUSTRIAL AND MANUFACTURING SITES. TODAY, THE LEA RIVER IS ESSENTIALLY A CANALISED RIVER THAT IS IN MOST PLACES INDISTIGUISHABLE FROM THE LEE NAVIGATION CHANNEL. TOGETHER, THE LEA/LEE ARE EMERGING AS AN IMPORTANT RECREATONAL RESOURCE, ALONGSIDE LONDON'S WATER SUPPLY INFRASTRUCTURE.

THE 2012 OLYMPICS WILL USHER IN THE NEXT MAJOR TRANSFORMATION OF THE LEA/LEE. FROM HACKNEY MARSH TO THE BOW RIVER, OLYMPIC DEVELOPMENT WILL RESTORE DERELICT AREAS, CREATE NEW HOMES, AND ADD GREEN OPEN SPACE.

NOTWITHSTANDING 250 YEARS OF TRANSFORMATION, POCKETS OF WILDERNESS ENDURE IN THE LEA VALLEY.

AN EXHIBITION OF THE LEA/LEE: TRANSFORMATIONS IS NOW SCHEDULED FOR LONDON CITY HALL MAY 12, 2008 – JUNE 10, 2008 AND WILL BE SPONSORED BY THAMES WATER AND HOSTED BY THE GREATER LONDON AUTHORITY.