I first became aware of Martin Parr, when I accidentally inherited a book exhibiting works by Magnum Photographers. I flicked through the pages, and what struck me about Parr's work was firstly the humours images of the public at the seaside, and secondly the very vivid use of colour and close crop- which stood out against the other images which were mostly black and white.
Cotton(1) suggests that Parr pushes the bounds of documentary photography, in that he combines intimacy and satire like no other photographer. Parr captures intimate moments which occur in the nitty gritty of everyday life, he puts his subjects under a microscope allowing them to act naturally in their own environment. Through this Parr, has the ability to convey the loaded meaning in a captured glance or ordinary sequence of events. Many of Parr's images have a unique British anthropological feel to them recording moments in the great British tradition which he states are sadly dying out. One image I particularly like is a close up of a chequered table cloth in a greasy spoon cafe. There is something quintessentially British about this. Being British, this is something that strikes a chord! we just get it! I love the satire evoked in looking at ordinary people in their own environment. One such photograph which springs to mind, is the image of the woman sunbathing (Parr's - euro watching, Benidorm, Spain, 1997) - the image is (unintentionally?) humorous - and is a great example of Parr's use of vivid colour. To achieve this Parr, often uses a macro lens to focus in close on his subject. This combined with the use of flash and high saturation produces, his unique trade mark.
The following articles illustrate Parr's work - and the interview, through Lens Culture is rewarding to listen to.
the above image of the sunbather was the one that first grabbed my attention in my Magnum book. It has to have been one of the influential factors in the British TV series, Benidorm.
Conculsion
Parr's images are striking and valuable in that they are an anthropological comment on elements of society, which in some cases are disappearing. His images also illustrate how effective it is to use highly saturated colours to convey a message or highlight elements of behaviour.
images courtesty of Martin Parr accessed through Lens Culture at
http://www.martinparr.com/index1.html (accessed 6/9/12)
http://www.lensculture.com/parr.html (accessed 25/09/12) ( -interview with Jim Casper
well worth a look)
(1)Cotton, Charlotte, (2009). The Photograph as Contemporary art (2nd revised ed), Thames and Hudsen, p 183
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