Mark Power in Walsall

Mark made his third trip to the Black Country in June. We decide to re-visit the brief: a rather massive task to document the social landscape of the Black Country. We talk about Mark's first impressions of West Bromwich, in particular how much of its former glory has faded and been replaced with nail bars, beauty salons and ‘gentlemen’s’ clubs. We both talk about a conceptual base that will help Mark to focus the project without constricting opportunities as they arise.

We look at the prints from Mark's first two visits and agree that the large format images are best placed to capture the accidental beauty of the found object or moment when Mark is out on the streets. These are the things that people make or leave behind, and the photographer finds; not to be artistic, but because it’s real life. The digital images and short films will focus on the gentlemen’s clubs and beauty salons. Three new clubs have opened on the West Brom High Street in the last 18 months: 'Angels' with their devil's horn logo and 'Heat for Men', as well as a scattering of nail bars and beauty salons.

We spend the rest of the day wandering around Walsall town centre and call into the newly built college. It’s teeming with students drinking Costa coffee in the large open plan foyer. We, however, are not allowed past reception because we don't have an appointment. We are finally let in but are watched by the security guard until we have finished our Macchiatos and leave the building.

We then go to a Walsall foundry where they cast and make door furniture: the knockers, knobs, and hinges that you find in B&Q. Some of the men and women are still paid for piece work; 19 pence a piece to file down a  double robe hook. Ray explains that he has to file down 450 robe hooks to make £85 a day; he's been doing the job for 15 years. There is great amusement when Mark asks Ray if he can film him, “What do you want to film him for, he's the worst here at his job”, says one his colleagues teasingly. It's Friday afternoon and an air of restless playfulness starts to take hold as Penny chases one of her workmates around the factory floor trying to kiss him.  “Its not my birthday til Monday!”; “I know” Penny shouts back as she gains on him, “but you won't be here”. Apparently Penny is the self appointed birthday kiss girl and despite their loud protestations it seems to me that the men like her attentions.

We have a curry at The Vine in West Brom, the best pub and curry house around, and then spend a couple of hours filming in Heat for Men on West Bromwich High Street; it’s all part of the commission!