Martin Parr began photography at age 14 and studied photography in college between 1970-1973. He is known for his black and white documentary style work in the 1970s and 1980s depicting ordinary British life. Parr later switched to using color photography in the late 1980s. Throughout his career, Parr has documented social and cultural aspects of Britain and other countries, often critiquing consumerism and globalization. He has produced numerous books of photography, worked on documentary films, and been a member of the photographic cooperative Magnum Photos since 1974.

1. James Cable
Daisy Marshall
Jimmy Chan

2. Bio

 Born in Epson, Surrey 23rd May 1952
 Started as a documentary photographer at 14
 Influenced by his grandfather who was an amateur
photographer
 Studied Photography at Manchester Polytechnic
between 1970-1973 (aged 18-21)
 Got married in 1980 and has one child
 Martin Parr was appointed Professor of Photography
in 2004 at The University of Wales Newport campus.

3. Early Work

 Bad Weather Photography:
 - This is exemplary of his early work, that of which
he gained recognition for.
 - Use of black and white
 -He has developed an international reputation for
his innovative imagery, his unique approach to
social documentary, and his input to photographic
culture within the UK and abroad.

4. Examples


5. Thoughts on the
Thatcher era

 Parr didn't like Margaret Thatcher and her ideologies
 Parr regrettably never photographed Thatcher or the miners
strike (which he supported)
 Parr considers himself a liberal, but in recent time has been
quoted as saying in an article for the guardian that," some of
her politics helped modernize Britain", despite being angry at
her during the 80's
 his work aimed to mirror the lifestyle of ordinary British
people, reflecting the social decline and distress of the working
class during the era of Margaret Thatcher

6. More recent work

 - Parr has developed an interest in film-making, and
has started to use his photography within different
conventions, such as fashion and advertising.
 - In 2008 Martin Parr was guest curator at New York
Photo Festival, curating the New Typologies
exhibition.
 - Parr has been working on a 4-year project
documenting the Black Country (West Midlands)

7. Work outside the UK

 Parr has done some work in Mexico where he was
struck by the clear impact of America's pop culture
on Mexican life
 thematic aspects of his work in Mexico include:
colourful and mocking close-ups of food, hats, signs,
and souvenirs etc.
 His work demonstrated the corruption of authentic
cultural forms by global consumer culture.
 his work both critiques and celebrates this
corruption

8. Magnum Photos

 In 14, Parr Became a member of Magnum Photos
 There was a great deal of controversy around him
joining Magnum due to his provocative
photographic style
 Parr- “I was one of the first to break that humanist
tradition that was so strong in the previous
generation. They thought I was exploitative, cynical,
even fascist. All kinds of words were used. But you
should ask them.”

9. Influences

 Bill Brandt - at the age of 15, Parr went to one of his
exhibitions and thought "This is fantastic! This is
what I want to do."

10. …Influences

 Henri Cartier-Bresson - "You're on another planet!".
Parr replied, our styles may be different but "don't
shoot the messenger." His black and white style is
similar to Parr’s, but he's movement towards a
postcard style couldn't be more different.

11. …Influences

 Supposedly the most significant of his influences
was Tony Ray-Jones who similarly, 'teased' the
English culture, like Parr. Jones was also British and
only around ten years older than Parr.

12. Documentaries

 Worked in Radio and various TV shows, including
the being one of the 12 film makers who contributed
to the survey of the funeral of Princess Diana.
It's Nice Up North, Think of
England, Vivians Hotel

13. Think of England

 Parr asked members of the public what it took to be
English.
 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S-dicDUWixE

14. Books

 First book / Black and White Photography
 - Bad Weather (1982) and 'A Fair Day' (1984)

15. The switch to colour
photography

 Then switch to colour photography
 few years later
 - 'The Last Resort' (1986)
 start his photographs with
 colourful images
 pioneer : John Bulmer
 http://www.magnumphotos.com/C.aspx?VP3=Sear
chResult&STID=2S5RYD122MMI

16. Other examples of his
work

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- Postcard collectors
key influence with the help of
John Hinde
collaboration with Gerry Badger
- Documentary filmmaker
Nick Barker 'Signs of the Times' 1992
'It's Nice Up North' 2006
- Big Awards and Honors
Centenary Medal of The Royal Photographic Society/
(HonFRPS)