Polphail in Photographs

I had never heard of Polphail until a few weeks ago when I went to meet a band who had asked me to work with them on press shots. They mentioned it as a possible location for the shoot, which obviously led to some google searching and research.

It's a bizarre contradiction of a place. Horrible, grimy and grim, juxtaposed with the stunning backdrop behind, there's a strange dichotomy when you stand by the 'entrance' (i.e. a gap forced open between fences).

The town, as it was, was built to accommodate workers on an offshore oil platform. This was never built, and so Polphail was never used, and has fallen into complete disrepair. It's bizarre to imagine something being built and simply left to rot when it was realised it wasn't actually much use.

All the stranger is the fact that it stands adjacent to occupied houses in the town of Portavadie. A pretty strange sight in the morning for the residents I'd imagine.

Anyway, we spent an afternoon here doing the press shots for the band, which I'll no doubt post soon (there are a couple of them in here sparking up a cigarette while I was geeking out at the awesome light). But for now, here is a bunch of shots of, and from, Polphail.

(Also, if you're in the UK, you've still got a few hours to go vote!)