ham, was severely affected by the recession yet, despite this, many residents continued to make considerable efforts to look their best against a backdrop of crumbling concrete and vacant shops. Working with a (female) assistant, we’d ask appropriate pedestrians if I might photograph their shoes. This was, to say the least, an unusual request and the performative nature of my method - lying prostrate on the ground in reverence - only added to the tension of the moment. A year later this picture was used on an enormous banner hanging outside the local art gallery to advertise the exhibition. Quite by chance, an elderly couple walking past recognised their daughter’s shoes (and presumably her ankles too). I can only imagine their surprise, but Samantha duly appeared at the opening the following evening… in the same footwear. My own daughter, Chilli, recognised her shoes immediately, and exclaimed: ‘Daddy! Samantha’s here… But she doesn’t LOOK right!’ From this simple image of red kitten heels and slightly puffy ankles, Chilli had constructed the rest of Samantha in her imagination. Needless to say, she was wrong. (NB: On Magnum’s website the keywords for this picture, written by an external organization and based entirely on what is seen or implied in the image, includes the term ‘Young Adult’. This too is inaccurate).” — Mark Power © Mark Power | Magnum Photos