Social Documentary Photographer

Martin Parr

Biography

1. Born in a middle class family in Epsom, Surrey, UK, 1952.

2. Developed interest in photography under the influence of his grandfather George Parr (an amateur photographer).

3. Studied photography and received his degree at Manchester Polytechnic with the installation “Home Sweet Home” in 1974.

4. Early works in 1970s are black and white photography, but after 1980 he switched to color film and focuses in color photography.

Biography

5. The American photo-documentarists William Eggleston, Joel Meyerowitz and John Hinde’s postcards are Parr’s inspiration for color photography

6. Became a member of Magnum Photographic Corporation in 1994.

7. Parr is currently interested in film-making and advertisement.

His Equipment

1. Until mid 1990s, Parr’s pictures were taken using 6 x 7 cm camera and daylight flash.

2. Wide-angle format was employed to capture complex groups and social interactions.

3. He later switched to a Nikon 35 mm camera, with macro lens for close-up shots.

4. For lighting and color, Parr uses ring flash to eliminate shadow from his subjects and the use of slow film gives Parr’s photo a radioactive intensity.

His Work/Influence

1. Parr’s work strongly denote the lives of the middle class people with a humoristic approach.

2. Parr’s photos were aimed to exaggerate the problematic world that we live in.

3. By revealing the ridiculous and the mischievous, Parr shows us how we live, how we present ourselves to others and what we value.

4. Parr is considered as one of the most controversial photographers for he “speaks not of the heroism of daily life - but of its banality.

5. Parr sees no boundary between artistic and editorial projects

Collections

1. “Home Sweet Home”, 1974.

2. “The Nonconformists”, 1981.

3. “The Last Resort”, 1983.

4. “Point of Sale”, 1986.

5. “A Small World”, 1993.

6. “Common Sense”, 1999.

7. “Boring Postcard”, 1999.

8. “Think of England”, 2000.

9. “Autoportrait”, 2000.

Sedlescombe, 1997

Ice Cream Soda, 1997

Spice Girls

Charity Shop, Eccles, Lancashire, 1985

New Brighton, Merseyside, 1983 - 6

New Brighton, Merseyside, 1983 - 6