Martin Parr
Martin Parr
Martin Parris a British documentary photographer, photojournalist and photobook collector. He is known for his photographic projects that take an intimate, satirical and anthropological look at aspects of modern life, in particular documenting the social classes of England, and more broadly the wealth of the Western world. His major projects have been rural communities, The Last Resort, The Cost of Living, Small Worldand Common Sense...
NationalityBritish
ProfessionPhotographer
Date of Birth25 May 1952
trying looks propaganda
Choosing sepia is all to do with trying to make the image look romantic and idealistic. It's sort of a soft version of propaganda.
ego photograph
I am what I photograph.
eye people trying
I see things going on before my eyes and I photograph them as they are, without trying to change them. I don't warn people beforehand. That's why I'm a chronicler. I speak about us and I speak about myself.
photography roles world
Part of the role of photography is to exaggerate, and that is an aspect that I have to puncture. I do that by showing the world as I really find it.
photography two way
There are two parts to the process: taking the picture and finding ways of using it.
photography facts boring
For those aspiring to make a living from travel photography, it's a sad fact that the boring shots are the shots that are going to make you money.
thinking ordinary aspect
I think the ordinary is a very under-exploited aspect of our lives because it is so familiar.
photography reality giving
With photography, I like to create a fiction out of reality. I try and do this by taking society's natural prejudice and giving this a twist.
propaganda glamorous
Most of the pictures we consume are propaganda.
passion havens
You can't learn passion, either you've got it or you haven't.
country beach space
You can read a lot about a country by looking at its beaches: across cultures, the beach is that rare public space in which all absurdities and quirky national behaviors can be found,
photography world complicated
Photography is the simplest thing in the world, but it is incredibly complicated to make it really work.
photography propaganda
All photography is propaganda.
games giving people
I go straight in very close to people and I do that because it's the only way you can get the picture. You go right up to them. Even now, I don't find it easy. I don't announce it. I pretend to be focusing elsewhere. If you take someone's photograph it is very difficult not to look at them just after. But it's the one thing that gives the game away. I don't try and hide what I'm doing - that would be folly.