Ordinary Places - Issue 1

I was in London, camera in hand, wandering the backstreets of Waterloo.

Mary was happy—she loves discovering places that aren’t full of tourists.

And I was happy too.

Why?

I wasn’t sure at first. I was snapping away, taking photos of dull, banal scenes—and loving it. I thought I might be having some sort of crisis.

Why would I photograph a knackered old building? Or a façade full of graffiti and regret?

Yet there I was, doing it. And looking for more.

We passed an alleyway. Mary said, “Ooh look. That’s crap—take that photo.”

And she was right. So I did. A dirty old alleyway with overflowing bins and broken doors.

But the shot hummed with… something.

I finished the roll that day and sent it off to the lab.

When the scans came back, I was blown away.

The ordinary places, the dull, banal scenes? They looked great. Not because they were beautiful—but because no one usually gives them a second glance.

But Mary and me? We did.

So I’ve kept doing it.

They call it New Topographics photography—photos of the overlooked, the mundane. Places you’re meant to walk through, not stop and admire.

I’m so taken with it, I’ve made my first zine.

You can download it for free right here.

There’ll be more.

I hope you enjoy it—and maybe see what I see in these ordinary places.

This first issue features photos of my home city, Coventry.

The London ones are coming soon.