I just adore the suburbs of my city. I’ve lived in London most of my life although my parents took me away from this urban paradise when I was 2 years old. Raised in an absurdly dull new town, famous only for a crazy roundabout, I returned, aged 18, to go to University. I’ve never left. Why would I? If you saw this place as I do, you’d never want to leave either.

 

My life has had its ups and downs. The downs exceed the ups by a considerable margin but they were entirely of my own making. No one else is to blame. Now simplicity is what keeps me safe and sometimes makes me happy.

 

I live in a fairly central location, just a little way south. I occasionally come a bit further in but don’t bring my camera for those trips. Who needs more pictures of the famous places? Beautiful though they are.

 

I come alive in the vast, unending suburban complex. I travel in all four directions. I have no prejudice. Perhaps I have my preferences, but hope that they will not be apparent here. The mundane interests me; the vast stretches of terraced houses, the corner shops and pubs, the parks and overlooked monuments, the churches, temples and cemeteries, sometimes people, sometimes animals.

 

I like to walk everywhere. I can’t go as far as I used to but I can still cover a few miles. I don’t much care for maps. After all these years I still find new places. I still take pleasure in being lost here. Suddenly I’m in a neighbourhood that I never knew existed, as if I walked into a parallel world into a familiar city that I’ve never seen before.

 

When I started photographing the obscure corners of my city I thought I would tire of the project at some time. In fact it has intensified my love of suburban London. That said, I don’t want the photography to dominate, so I keep it simple. For a long while I used a pocketable Sony Cybershot RX100. It’s a beautiful little camera. My main camera now is a Fujifilm X-T100. It’s the cheapest of Fujifilm’s mirrorless range. I mostly use a cheap 15mm-45mm kit lens. It suits me fine. It’s easy to use and takes great pictures. I love its retro look, which reminds me of the cameras my father used to use in the 60s & 70s.

 

My photographs are not great works of art but they are of things that mean a great deal to me. I think some of you will share my interest and fascination. Perhaps you feel the same about your own city, wherever that may be. I hope you enjoy looking at my modest pictures and reading the few words that come to mind when I look into them.

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