Evocative photos of ordinary life in ‘70s Stourbridge

John Myers has a penchant for what he calls “boring photos”. Black and white images of motorways, rows of identical houses, garages, televisions, empty and unremarkable landscapes, are staples of his oeuvre, and indicative of a long-held fascination with the mundane – or those things which are often seen, yet frequently dismissed.
Originally from Bradford, Myers has been based in the Black Country town of Stourbridge, in the West Midlands, since graduating from art school in Newcastle in 1969. At art school, he studied fine art, where he was taught by the English pop artist, Richard Hamilton.
It was while completing his fine art degree that Myers gravitated towards photography. “I don’t see the others see there being any great kind of fundamental difference between the business of photography and the business of painting or sculpture,” he says. “Essentially, you’re dealing with images and image-making.”

Television No 4, 1973

Young Girl, 1973
Myers was driven by his admiration for the work of August Sander, Diane Arbus, Eugene Atget and Walker Evans. But it was Arbus’ work, in particular, that sparked his interest in ‘boring’ scenes – a fact that might seem at odds with Arbus’ reputation for photographing the unusual and eccentric. But having studied Arbus’ catalogue, Myers found that infact, the vast majority of her subjects were of normal people and that many of the narratives around her work had been misconstrued.
Between 1972 and 1979, after graduating from art school, Myers set out to capture his quiet neighbourhood in the Midlands. Some of these photographs are collected in a new book, entitled The Guide (RRB Photobooks). “Most of the photographs are taken within walking distance of where I lived,” explains Myers. He would photograph people he knew, or people who came across his route, such as a student at the local college, a daughter of a colleague and a butcher’s boy working at an abattoir.

Giraffe, 1972

Mr Jackson, 1974
While there are some more exotic images in the book – such as a giraffe at the local zoo – most of the images from The Guide speak to the mundane, everyday quality that Myer’s sought to imbue his photography with. Images of the lifts in Waitrose, or a dual carriageway, are timeless in the sense that they are “deeply familiar and universal”, says Myers.
“The great problem with a lot of photography, in my view, is that it’s dedicated to making the world look special and different,” continues Myers. “They’re geared up to a notion of the world which is essentially about being spectacular and exciting.”
While the book offers a fascinating slice of history and an unvarnished glimpse at Thatcher’s Britain, Myers’ purpose was less about documenting the past. “I want to demystify the business of taking photographs,” he says, “and to represent the world we all live in.”

Shop counter, customer’s view, 1981

Entrance to Industrial Estate, (No 2), 1983

Bower Lane, Substation No 11701, 1974

House and garden, Chawn Hill, Stourbridge, 1979
The Guide is now available on RRB Photobooks.
Enjoyed this article? Like Huck on Facebook or follow us on Twitter.
Latest on Huck

Clubbing is good for your health, according to neuroscientists
We Become One — A new documentary explores the positive effects that dance music and shared musical experiences can have on the human brain.
Written by: Zahra Onsori

In England’s rural north, skateboarding is femme
Zine scene — A new project from visual artist Juliet Klottrup, ‘Skate Like a Lass’, spotlights the FLINTA+ collectives who are redefining what it means to be a skater.
Written by: Zahra Onsori

Donald Trump says that “everything is computer” – does he have a point?
Huck’s March dispatch — As AI creeps increasingly into our daily lives and our attention spans are lost to social media content, newsletter columnist Emma Garland unpicks the US President’s eyebrow-raising turn of phrase at a White House car show.
Written by: Emma Garland

How the ’70s radicalised the landscape of photography
The ’70s Lens — Half a century ago, visionary photographers including Nan Goldin, Joel Meyerowitz and Larry Sultan pushed the envelope of what was possible in image-making, blurring the boundaries between high and low art. A new exhibition revisits the era.
Written by: Miss Rosen

The inner-city riding club serving Newcastle’s youth
Stepney Western — Harry Lawson’s new experimental documentary sets up a Western film in the English North East, by focusing on a stables that also functions as a charity for disadvantaged young people.
Written by: Isaac Muk

The British intimacy of ‘the afters’
Not Going Home — In 1998, photographer Mischa Haller travelled to nightclubs just as their doors were shutting and dancers streamed out onto the streets, capturing the country’s partying youth in the early morning haze.
Written by: Ella Glossop