ao stands for the aesthetic of the ordinary. It is a new not-for-profit initiative conceived by photographers Richard Mortimer, Bob Hitchcock and Colin Farmery who have been brought together on the BlueSky social media platform through their shared appreciation of the often under-appreciated beauty of the everyday environment.

The aim of ao will be to showcase the work of photographers in this space by means of a free digital magazine, published three times a year. All photographs will remain the intellectual property of the photographers who created them.

Through ao we hope to grow audience awareness and appreciation of the ordinary world around us. More information will be made available in the coming weeks.

The target date to publish the first issue is August 2026. 

Whether it’s wheelie bins or bus window paintings, fire hydrants or maintenance covers, the everyday world has an intrinsic allure.

ao aims to capture its essence and give it the prominence it deserves. Keep checking back for updates or email us on the address below with ideas or suggestions of what you’d like to see.