RIP Martin Parr

That's a shame to hear. Liked quite a lot of his stuff.
 
I must say I wasn't familiar with his work previously. But it's got a certain something. He captures a slice of Britain very well.
 
I always felt ambivalent about his work, feeling that it was exploitative in ways that the work of prior members of Magnum wasn't. But that doesn't eclipse my view of him as a valuable person - he did a lot for photography at large, hopefully some of which will carry on posthumously.
 
droj said:
I always felt ambivalent about his work, feeling that it was exploitative in ways that the work of prior members of Magnum wasn't. But that doesn't eclipse my view of him as a valuable person - he did a lot for photography at large, hopefully some of which will carry on posthumously.
Click to expand...

Yes, "The Last Resort" seemed rather cruel but valuable nonetheless. I marvelled at the way he was able to do it.
 
jerry12953 said:
Yes, "The Last Resort" seemed rather cruel but valuable nonetheless. I marvelled at the way he was able to do it.
Click to expand...
Didn't those in the photos take a different view of the pictures to the chattering classes and see them as perfectly OK? I've never thought of them as sneering, but as an accurate record of what it's like in a run down northern seaside town in summer - I'm from Southport. ;)

Parr's early black and white work was more in the 'traditional Magnum' style, and there have been projects/books which are far less likely to be seen as exploitative or condescending and more celebratory - a favourite of mine being Black Country Stories. Which makes me wonder if his most well known style was used because he knew it got attention and paid well?
 
A couple of relevant links of interest:

One is from "The Conversation" (those in hot topics, will know I often post links from here, as the articles are all by academics working in the subject area being discussed)

theconversation.com

Martin Parr: an astute and uniquely British photographer

This much-loved photographer was a keen observer of the human condition.
theconversation.com theconversation.com

And the other is a long video from Alec Soth (40 minutes, but only about half is about Martin Parr) talking about his personal relationship with Martin Parr, and discussing his favourite Martin Parr books, which (as with @Ed Sutton )is Black Country Stories, even if he doesn't see it as his "best" work.

EDIT I got a bit confused with his favourite book, as he seems to like another book called "Martin Parr" the most, and the other book I referred to is called Black Country Women, not Black Country Stories, so it looks as if i also got it wrong in terms of it being the book that Dave liked :-(

View: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FQy1Ezq1YkE
 
Last edited:
myotis said:
EDIT I got a bit confused with his favourite book, as he seems to like another book called "Martin Parr" the most, and the other book I referred to is called Black Country Women, not Black Country Stories, so it looks as if i also got it wrong in terms of it being the book that Dave liked :-(
Click to expand...

:LOL:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top