He displays his work in frames, and without frames. He capulates the vulgarity of the 20th/ 21st century.
He follows 19th century photographers like Bill Brandt, who photographs the world around him, however he does not stand back, he pokes his head into peoples lives. He is a direct and brave man who will approach anyone to take their photographs.
The colours in his photographs are really bright and he often used a flash to exaggerate the colours in his photographs.
He likes to speak his mind to share his opinions and views. He looks at the world in a specific way. His dad enjoyed to watch a subject, and Martin Parr gets this from him.
His first college project was 'Home Sweet Home'. This was a T.V and home surrounding, and it was a subject which he never got bored of.
His favourite place to take his photographs was in Northern England. He began taking his photgraphs there, as his Grandad taught him to, and some of his family lived there. He ended up moving from Surrey to Yorkshire (up North). When he first moved there, he looked at the traditional way of life. He looked at the working class and the community. Initially he worked in black and white, to fit with the 'traditional' theme.
Martin believes that you cannot be involved in what ou are photgraphing from behind the lens.
In 1980 and onwards, he went to New Brighton (Near Liverpool) where he did a project called 'Last Resort'. These included images by the seaside. They were a political statement showing that society was not as great as the government were saying it was. The photos portray scenes of people having their holidays at the sea side, surrounded by rubbish. The images are amusing but sad. When Martin exhibited the images, people thought the photos exploited people, but he says 'Perhaps all photography is though?' His photos went against what other photographers would do, and what the public usually saw. He took the photographs when most other photographers were shooting in black and white.
Martin Parr moved to Brighton, which is where he lives now. His house is full of things, as he likes to collect things. He has been collecting wallpaper for 30 years, books, watches, and more. Anything with photos on, he would be attracted to and would collect.
He doesn't throw anything away, and nothing is too obscure.
When Martin was young, he also liked to paint, aswell as having an interest in photography.
He became a Magnum photographer and he entered in the 80s. It took a long time for him to get recognised and popular, bu when people did take more interest in his work, he quickly became rich.
His next project was called 'The Cost Of Living'. This was a project about middle class, as he had done a project on the working class before.
He couldn't photograph everything so he looked at tradition, new classes and so on.
People said his work was so well observed.
In the 90's, he did a project called 'Small World', this was about global tourism, and he photographed people and places around the world. Tourism had become the biggest business in the world.
He took pictures of people taking photos on their phones and compact cameras, etc.
Martin Parr also photographed a series of images which were of the last car parking space in different places around the world.
Another one of his projects was called 'Common Sense' in 1995, he took many photographs in Japan, America, and Britain. People don't feature in these photos as much as his previous projects. He also used a ringflash, a macro lens and portable studio lighting. Strong saturation allows you to photo quickly with even lighting. The focus of these photos was on objects and food. He always finds tacky elements of anywhere he is. He records the society in which we live in, it's a pesimistic view on the world.
He see's the future as sad and depressing, and he thinks that 'everything is going down the pan'.
Martin Parr says he could never reitire, and it is his desire to never give up photography.
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