Martin Parr
Martin Parr: A Photographer's Life
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Martin Harry Carruthers Parr is a British photographer known for his documentary-style photographs of everyday life in the United Kingdom.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born on May 23, 1953, in Epsom, Surrey, England. Still active as a photographer today.
Nationality and Profession(s)
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British, Photographer
Parr's work spans a wide range of genres including documentary photography, landscape photography, and still life photography. He is best known for his large format color photographs that often focus on British culture, tourism, and consumerism.
Early Life and Background
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Martin Parr grew up in a middle-class family in the south of England. His interest in photography began at an early age, influenced by his parents' love of travel and art. After completing his secondary education, he attended the College of Art in Cheltenham, where he honed his skills in photography.
Major Accomplishments
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Parr's work has been widely exhibited internationally and is part of numerous collections, including the Victoria and Albert Museum, the National Media Museum, and the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York. He has also been awarded several honors for his contributions to photography, such as the Hasselblad Award in 2004.
Notable Works or Actions
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Some of Parr's most notable works include:
The Last Resort (1988): A series of photographs documenting a working-class seaside resort town in Wales.
Small World (1996-2003): A project exploring British culture, consumerism, and tourism through large format color photographs.
* Boring Postcards (2010): A series of postcard-style photographs taken during his travels to various countries around the world.
Parr has also been involved in several notable projects and exhibitions throughout his career. These include working with other photographers on collaborative projects such as _A Message from the Country_ (1988) and _The Non-Conformists_ (1990).
Impact and Legacy
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Martin Parr's work has had a significant impact on the photography world, influencing generations of photographers to explore documentary-style and large format color photography. His photographs often spark conversations about cultural identity, consumerism, and the complexities of everyday life.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Parr is widely quoted for his insightful and thought-provoking photographs that capture the essence of British culture and society. He is remembered as one of the most influential photographers of his generation, whose work continues to inspire and challenge audiences today.
Quotes by Martin Parr
Martin Parr's insights on:
I am not as cross about Thatcher now as I was in the ’80s. Begrudgingly, I can see that some of her policies helped modernise Britain.
Photography’s central role is to be the absolute medium of the day. It is fantastic that there is no longer any technical intimidation.
Filming is always a challenge because I’m not used to it. But I approach it head-on. I’m not technically brilliant, but it’s the spirit that counts.
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.
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.
When a mother takes pictures of her children on the beach, she doesn’t take herself for an artist; she does it for love, which is an excellent reason, from my point of view.
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.