In 2024, the Photo Festival La Gacilly in Baden near Vienna/Austria prominently featured some works of Martin Parr, drawing attention to his unique approach to documentary photography. As part of the festival, Parr also delivered an insightful talk at the Leica Gallery in Vienna, where he shared his thoughts on his career, photographic style, and the evolving landscape of photography.

Photographic Development: From Black and White to a World of Color

Parr's photographic journey began with his grandfather who introduced him to the medium. His early works were done with a Makina Plaubel 67, an analog medium format camera, with which he initially shot in black and white. His early work was heavily influenced by the traditions of classic documentary photography, focusing on the subtleties and nuances of everyday life and the wealth of the western world.

However, as his career progressed, Parr made a significant shift to color photography. The world is in color, after all, he said. This transition allowed him to explore the vibrancy and saturation of the world around him, ultimately becoming one of his defining characteristics. The move to color was not just a technical change but a shift in perspective, enabling him to capture the vividness of the ordinary with a new intensity.

Martin Parr giving a talk at the Leica Store Vienna, 2024

Martin Parr's Style: Celebrating the Middle of Society

Unlike many photographers who seek out the extremes of society—the abandoned, the romantic, the desolate—Parr's lens is drawn to the middle. His work is a celebration of the normal, the mundane, and the everyday experiences of middle-class life. He doesn't romanticize his subjects; instead, he presents them as they are, with all their quirks and imperfections. Parr's photographs often feature ordinary settings like beaches, grocery stores, and suburban neighborhoods. These images, while seemingly simple, are rich with social commentary, reflecting the peculiarities and idiosyncrasies of contemporary life.

Why Take Photos? Capturing a Social History

During the talk, Martin Parr explained that for him photography is a means of documenting the social history of our times. By focusing on the everyday, he creates a visual record of moments that might otherwise be overlooked. His photographs serve as a reminder not to take the present for granted. Looking back at his work, one can see how much has changed over the years—trends, fashions, technology and even the nature of leisure have evolved. Parr's images allow us to witness these transformations, providing a nostalgic yet critical view of the passage of time.

On His Books: Quantity Over Quality?

Throughout his career, Martin Parr has published over 100 books. While this is an impressive feat, Parr himself is quick to point out that not all of them are masterpieces. In fact, he humorously admits that he doesn’t tell which ones the good ones are. For him, the notion that his latest book might be his best is somewhat depressing, as it implies that the others are inferior. This humility and self-awareness are part of what makes Parr such an engaging and relatable figure in the world of photography. Despite the sheer volume of his publications, Parr continues to push boundaries and explore new narratives in his work.

A Surprising Turn: Martin Parr in Fashion Photography

One might assume that fashion photography would be entirely out of Martin Parr's realm, given his focus on the mundane aspects of life. However, Parr was commissioned to work in fashion, and true to his style, he approached it in an unconventional way. Rather than adhering to the norms of the fashion world—glamorous models, polished settings, and idealized imagery—Parr brought his distinctive vision to the task. He either took the clothes out into the streets, asking random people to model them, or placed professional models in locations no fashion photographer would ever consider. The result was a series of fashion photographs that were unmistakably Parr: quirky, real, and full of life. Interestingly enough, the clients knew that they would get “Martin Parr Fashion Photographs” and not what they usually get.

Advice from Martin Parr: Create, Share, and Shoot

Martin Parr had plenty of advice for aspiring photographers, much of it centered around the importance of practice, self-expression and perseverance. He encourages photographers to create books, as they provide an opportunity to develop one's own narrative and presentation. Whether acting as their own editor or seeking help with photo selection, Parr believes that the process of making a book is a crucial exercise in storytelling.

In today’s digital age, Parr also advocates for the use of Instagram as a platform to share work. Previously, photographers had to rely on agencies and galleries to get their work seen, but now, social media provides a direct line to an audience. However, Parr’s most emphatic advice is simple: shoot, shoot, shoot. He even jokingly bet an audience that he had taken more bad pictures than anyone in the whole (totally overcrowded!) room, emphasizing the importance of practice and persistence in the craft.

Photography and AI: Embracing the Future

In a world increasingly influenced by artificial intelligence, the question of AI's impact on photography is inevitable. When asked by one audience member if he is concerned about AI, Parr responded with confidence: He believes that while AI may produce technically perfect images—sharp, well-composed, and visually appealing—it will never capture the quirks and imperfections that make life interesting. For Parr, it’s these imperfections that give photography its true value, a sentiment that underscores his belief in the human touch behind the lens.

Doing some event photography while Martin Parr signed all books

The Martin Parr Foundation: Preserving a Legacy

In addition to his photographic work, Martin Parr has established the Martin Parr Foundation, a project close to his heart. The foundation was created to protect Parr’s legacy and to support British documentary photographers, a group he feels is often underrepresented and underestimated. The foundation provides a platform for these photographers to showcase their work, ensuring that their contributions to the field are recognized and preserved for future generations.

A Pro Tip from Martin Parr

As we conclude, here’s a fun tip from Martin Parr himself: sunglasses always make for great pictures — a fitting piece of advice from a photographer who has built his career on finding the extraordinary in the ordinary.

Capturing the Quirks of Everyday Life - A Talk by Martin Parr