Today, thanks to a marvelous recommendation by fellow blogger/loyal reader/good friend Laura, we are checking out the piercing, sardonic eye of British photographer Martin Parr. He plays on his viewers’ prejudices by feeding our assumptions about people. Parr has an amazing way of exploiting (in a good way) his subjects’ peculiarities to confirm our skewed world views. I find his beach photos particularly powerful. I would be willing to swear I have been the next towel over from these people. His way of capturing them in exactly the right moment makes the photos feel personal, like you’ve stumbled upon a box of unknown family snapshots.
“With photography, I like to create fiction out of reality. I try and do this by taking society’s natural prejudice and giving this a twist”
– Martin Parr
Parr’s sense of parody and good-natured ridicule are turned not just on his subjects, but also on the viewers. We share the responsibility for the effectiveness of his images.
You can learn more about brilliant photographer Martin Parr on his website and on Instagram.
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May 24, 2021 at 6:56 am
Yay! I am so glad you enjoyed Parr’s photography. I am a big fan. I love how bold and bright his photographs are and the way his candid photos are so rich in narrative possibilities about the characters and scenes he captures. He has such a good eye for the really characterful people. (And I feel very honoured to have suggested content for your wonderful blog.)
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May 24, 2021 at 10:03 am
The honor is all mine! I deeply enjoyed looking at his work. A really great rabbit hole!
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May 24, 2021 at 11:07 am
Great choice, Laura!
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May 24, 2021 at 2:51 pm
I am glad you enjoyed the subject.
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May 24, 2021 at 8:40 pm
Laura always gives me great suggestions!
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May 24, 2021 at 7:18 am
Let me thank Laura also. THANKS = I enjoyed all of the pictures in this post. Some really good work -= H
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May 24, 2021 at 10:04 am
He has a wonderful way of making everything look like Florida in the 1970s.
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May 24, 2021 at 8:03 am
I do have to wonder “why” on some of them. Maybe I’m just a landscape person. lol
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May 24, 2021 at 8:38 pm
When I’m wandering around with my camera (usually at a parade), I am totally drawn to characters. Faces definitely fascinate me, and I love the stories his faces tell.
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May 24, 2021 at 11:05 am
Great suggestion from Laura! I was so happy to read that he specializes in rear view photos of people. Me, too! Only because I cannot work up the courage to photograph people from the front… These are weirdly fascinating, and maybe just a little Diane Arbus-ish.
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May 24, 2021 at 8:39 pm
Yes! You’re right. There is some Diane Arbus style in there.
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