After London: Simon Roberts’ Blurry Photos Offer Dystopian Vision

Simon Roberts' new photography book, “After London,” presents a collection of 52 deliberately out-of-focus and people-less images of iconic London landmarks, challenging conventional photographic representation. Far from being a printing error or amateur mistake, this artistic choice aims to provoke a unique visual experience, prompting viewers to “squint” at familiar sights like the graceful dome of St Paul's Cathedral and the distinctive Walkie-Talkie building, which is playfully dubbed “Blurry-Whirry.” Roberts, a well-regarded photographer and official artist for the 2024 General Election, infuses his work with a sense of unease and ethereal mystery, drawing parallels to the bleary ethereality of Impressionist painters like Whistler, Turner, and Monet, who also depicted the capital.

The book's title and underlying theme are inspired by Richard Jefferies' 1885 dystopian novel, “After London,” which envisions a natural catastrophe submerging the city and plunging society into a barbaric future. Roberts explains that his photographs are “shaped by that same unease,” portraying “faintly recognisable London scene[s], yet emptied of human presence.” This creates “vistas suspended in a strange hush, where landmarks appear unstable, submerged, or already slipping back into the embrace of nature.” This artistic approach serves as a deliberate resistance against the “endlessly reproduced images of the capital” that often reduce its skyline to mere visual shorthand, offering instead a profound, almost post-apocalyptic reinterpretation.

While the artistic intent is clear, the article acknowledges that the reception of this “dystopian framing” may vary. Some might be moved by the profound statement, while others could perceive the blurred images as akin to “photos taken by a hasty tourist who hasn't yet mastered their phone camera settings.” Ultimately, the appreciation of “After London” depends on the individual's “viewpoint—fuzzy though it may be.” The book, published by Hoxton Mini Press, is set for release on January 15, 2026, inviting audiences to engage with its unique and thought-provoking vision of a London transformed.

(Source: https://londonist.com/london/books-and-poetry/after-london-simon-roberts-blurry-photos)