East London From Memory

This post has nothing to do with anywhere I've been or anything I've actually seen. It does, however, have to do with a fantastic visual portrayal of London with a wonderful story.

I was watching some television the other night trying to fall asleep when I came across a documentary about a 33-year-old Autistic savant called Stephen Wiltshire. He did not speak until the age of nine, but has managed to overcome many of the social hindrances his condition saddles him with. The man possesses an amazing, if not eidetic, memory and the special centered largely around one large piece he was completing. He flew around East London in a helicopter for 15 minutes, then spent five days sketching what he saw from memory. The final product stretched over 16 feet across and is absolutely astounding.

What follows is a comparison of his work and a skyline view of East London, accompanied by a more detailed copy of his work. Please click on the pictures to make them appear larger. People who looked for their homes or offices commented that he was even correct in remembering how many windows or floors a certain building had.