As a society, we’re drowning in images, yet ‘Just Looking’ gives us something we’ve almost forgotten—a chance to stop and really see. Drawn from the Instagram feeds of artists, writers, and sharp-eyed observers, this book transforms the ordinary into something extraordinary, uncovering the quiet magic that lies in plain sight. From Nick Hornby’s Supermarket to Rachel Whiteread’s Bunker, David Byrne’s Spiritual Footwear to Kamila Shamsie’s Penguin, the book is a visual feast of fleeting moments, each one a testament to the art of seeing.
Jarvis Cocker’s introduction sets the tone perfectly: these photographs are not staged or overly polished but rather “simple, unaffected representations” of how people perceive the world. There is no single correct way to look—only your way. And when these myriad perspectives converge, something magical happens: life’s brilliant complexity, its beauty, its majesty, and even its absurdity come sharply into focus.
The contributors—Thomas Adès, Hurvin Anderson, Simon Armitage, Roz Chast, Cornelia Parker, and many more—are united not by a shared aesthetic but by their ability to find wonder in the ordinary. A petrol pump, a parakeet, a pair of graffiti-covered trousers—each image is a minor revelation, a reminder that the world is richer when we truly pay attention.
Published by Redstone Press, known for their Redstone Diary and Surrealist Games, Just Looking continues its tradition of unexpected, thought-provoking works. More than a photography book, it is an invitation to lift our gaze from our screens, to slow down, and to rediscover the strange, delightful details that surround us.
In an age of endless scrolling, Just Looking is a quiet rebellion—a call to reclaim the lost art of observation. As Cocker urges: Look. And in doing so, we might see the world anew.
Just Looking: Snapshots, Close-ups and Portraits of the Everyday, edited by Julian Rothenstein, an Introduction by Jarvis Cocker, Observations chosen by Ian Sansom. – PCR