"First priority is to make an entertaining picture." | Photographer Martin Parr | Louisiana Channel

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Legendary British documentary photographer Martin Parr is known for his innovative, often satirical imagery portraying modern life in the wealthy western world. Here he looks back at 50 years of work. "If you look at the world, what can you do, it is funny, and if you don't laugh, you cry", he says.
"We all know we are doomed because of climate change, so the only way to make daily life possible is to try and find the humor in the world we see and try to show the contradictions. Do I like Britain, yes and no. How can I show that in an image? That's what I try and do. One picture that shows both sides to the argument."
Martin Parr began his career shooting in black and white documenting society as a "celebration of life," he says, and when he moved to color in the mid-8oies, his work became a "critique of society," he says. He calls his photography his "personal interpretation of what I see in front of me." "My pictures are fictional because I often use flash, not something you would see with a human eye."
As an example, Parr mentions his series 'The Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton 'from 1983-86, which is today considered one of his most important works. "It is my connection to New Brighton through photography that ultimately makes that work. It was one of these moments where everything came together the right way. I think every artist ultimately has one project they are going to be known for. It is an exception if they have more than one, and this is my one. And it is not to say everything I have done since then is rubbish; it is not going to have the same impact. I was young, angry, and raw in my thirties. It was the right time, the right place."
"My first priorities are trying to make an entertaining picture in a bright color, this is a language almost stolen from commercial photography, and at the same time, I want to draw people in, and if they want, they can read the politics behind it, it is not shut down peoples throat, but it is there, ultimately I do have a responsibility to intrigue people and bring people in, and then different things going on, if they want to discover it."
Martin Parr has been portraying the British for decades. "When I think about my relationship to the UK, it's a mixed one. I like the place, but at the same time, I'm really depressed in particular because of my compatriot's voting to leave the EU, something I am very pissed off about. How do I get these ultimately contradictory feelings into a photograph, that's the challenge, and that's one of the things I attempt to do. I almost use the act of photographing my own country as a form of therapy where I can explore these ends of thinking if you like. The ambiguity and the contradictions can be read if someone chooses to in the image.
"I am probably more popular in France than in the UK, and probably the French enjoy me being mischievous with the British, and that ties in with their mentality. If I had a show in Paris, there would probably go more people seeing it than I would in London. "
In 2021 Parr got diagnosed with myeloma, a form of cancer, "so I am now getting treatment for this, but it has meant that this year (in 2021), I haven't really been active as a photographer, which is very frustrating for me". "I don't know if my shooting days are over yet and if I have to think about being a disabled photographer mounting my camera on the scooter doing different kinds of work, who knows."
Martin Parr was born in Surrey, United Kingdom, in 1952. He studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic from 1970 to 1973. As a documentary photographer, Martin Parr has worked on numerous photographic projects. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his contribution to photographic culture within the UK and abroad. In 1994 he became a full member of Magnum Photographic Cooperative. The Martin Parr Foundation, founded in 2014, opened premises in his hometown of Bristol in 2017. It houses his archive, his collection of British and Irish photography by other photographers, and a gallery. Martin Parr's work is held in prominent institutions like the Tate, The Victoria and Albert Museum in London, and the Art Institute of Chicago.
Christian Lund interviewed Martin Parr at the Martin Parr Foundation in Bristol in December 2021.
Camera: Kyle Stevenson
Edit: Johan von Bülow
Produced by Christian Lund
Copyright: Louisiana Channel, Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, 2022
Louisiana Channel is supported by Den A.P. Møllerske Støttefond, Ny Carlsbergfondet, C.L. Davids Fond og Samling and Fritz Hansen
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[@bodhran1965]

What a great watch. Really nice to see an actual photographer talk about his work rather than being yelled at by a youtube wanker about what lens to buy.

[@charliebeharrell8080]

Martin is that rare breed of photographer who can talk about their work without pretence or delusions of grandeur. I think his sense of humour has helped him retain humility and for me it sets his work apart from many other great photographers. He nails the composition, colour and subject and simultaneously makes you smile. Truly one of the greats.

[@stephen_mcateer]

Interesting. I enjoyed listening to him. Hope the treatment goes well.

[@vicentejouclas2518]

Much time since I saw something with that quality of life! What a relief! And a discovery!

[@siobhanfrances5485]

Fabulous. Very grateful that a quality documentary like this is freely available on KZbin.

[@MrMauriziomazzoni]

Wish you the very best, Martin! 🤗🤗🤗

[@ulhasarolkar]

Great...

[@stephen_mcateer]

His black & white work is great I think.

[@Anna-pv4tv]

His sense of humor is so british! He is great!

[@MeAlexSenna]

Great interview. Love to see how the mind of a pro photographer works and goes about generating new material. Thanks and congratulations for such a strong work

[@michaelpennphoto]

Martin Parr is an excellent color photographer. Thanks for the video.

[@melaninxhalide1165]

A fascinating look into Parr’s process and studio. Thank you for this.

[@CSchaeken]

Great interview, have loved Martin’s work for a long time. Wish you all the best with your health Martin. Love from Alsace France.👍❤️

[@kindsey1]

This interview is wonderful. Im so glad I found this channel, so many interesting artists.

[@marialilianaamezcuaalvarez6101]

❤

[@huubkoch]

Once did a workshop with Martin. Still thank him for his advice.

[@audreyh6628]

Have loved Martin's work for decades - thank you, this was excellent

[@solomonadams4337]

Wonderful story! Very glad to have watched!

[@tonyparatore888]

Really nice... Sometimes you look at pictures done by a photographer, and you may not like his work... But after you hear what he/she has to say, you can't help but like the pictures very much... And the photographer too of course...

[@ChristineWilsonPhotography]

Wonderful video lovely to see BTS of the foundation- hoping Martin gets beter soon

[@rubenvega_]

Master ❣️

[@creampug701]

👍👍👍👍

[@fearlessmadamex5685]

Gosh, this interview is so awesome. Love this

[@mytechid9748]

love this one! love Martin

[@johnmorgan5495]

Brilliant X

[@peterking7118]

Wow, Martin Parr; always a little different, very clever and yet humble. How different are our lives; yours and mine included. I wonder if you remember Rex.

[@huntingvega3876]

So interesting!!

[@rjfotografo]

Great human being

[@markfisher299]

Great stuff.Good luck with your health

[@oyaakkul3907]

♥️♥️♥️

[@chrisstaniforth5629]

Really enjoyed this alot!! Cheers

[@johnjewell219]

👏👏👍👍👍❤❤

[@petemc5070]

19:39 the French may find the photographs particularly appealing as it is reminiscent of their own witty 20th Century photographers like Doisneau and Cartier-Bresson.

[@timcoleman8297]

There is no doubt that The Last Resort is an extraordinary book. It is seminal and technically brilliant. But I can't help but feel he has never matched it and his subsequent work is just more of the same but not as impactful. Still I hugely respect him for creating a genre of photography that instantly recognisable and can be referred to as doing a Martin Parr. Not many photographers achieve that.

[@lokyinphotography]

I feel a bit sad seeing him getting old..

[@wayneclayton5426]

Surbiton becomes for more interesting when you come at it from the opposite direction. From Northern working class to Suburban South. I saw many sights, smells, sounds and behaviour totally alien to me. For one many famous faces from TV and film might suddenly would appear as you wandered around the supermarket. Because you usually saw their head and shoulders on TV, in real life they faces would seem enormous compared to the rest of them.

[@potincugeorge]

Bello

[@victorcandia]

I hope Martin got better since this was filmed.. does anyone know how is he doing?

[@tejasnair3399]

But doesn’t all of the great art in history mould things to an _ideal_ ? Isn’t that what matters? If people find numinous pictures like of a boy weeping, or a man in a deserted landscape, or a photo like Kertesz’ ‘Faun’ more compelling than something which decides a priori not to idealize, what does that say?

[@Gabrielcezar94]

I wonder, as a layman, if you (or in this case he) have to ask permission from the people you’re photographing before showing the pictures, publishing them… do you just take the picture surprising the subject, and then ask if you can use it? Do you ask first and then stage it? I think not, because they look so spontaneous…

[@stephen_mcateer]

I think in the UK you don't need permission to take someone's photograph unless you use it for commercial purposes.

[@belladonna5904]

No you don't need permission to publish them unless they are going to be on the cover of the book.

[@Raevenswood]

You don't have to ask permission unless the images are going to be used for commercial interests like marketing of products or services. Making art or editorial content is not regulated under the same rules so permission isn't required.

[@geoffreypiltz271]

You can't interview a British middle class person without them deprecating Brexit. It's a badge that they wear, including Martin. (I have never been pro- or anti-Brexit. I am an Australian living in the UK.) Martin's work is not objective, hence his popularity in France. If he had taken the same sort of photos there, then those photos of France would have been popular in Britain as appealing to British prejudice. His work should be read as a British middle class view of the world - but I suppose it could never have been anything else given his acknowledged background. A valuable and entertaining portfolio of work within this context.

[@UKMike2009]

No denying his success but Parr is my least favourite "famous" photographer. For whatever reason, his images just don't resonate with me. Still interesting to hear him talk about his work though.

[@user-ke4hi2el5k]

I still don't get how they don't notice the flash while being photographed

[@Raevenswood]

the flash happens in fractions of a second. The image is already captured before they notice anything :)

[@tonyparatore888]

I think it's all about the photographer... If you have the guts to do it, then you will do it... Just smile...

[@neopsycho4413]

jajajaja

[@PeterFlamm-gt4xb]

Mij J

[@belaacs5238]

I never understood how can a photographer write over 125 books. He is an excellent salesman first and a photographer second. I know photography (art) is subjective but most of his color images look just snapshots and if they were taken by an unknown photographer nobody would even take a look at them. Sorry, Mr. Parr but I just watched W Eugene Smith's life and photographs before this video and got the conclusion that he was a bad salesman but one of the best ever photographer.

[@belaacs5238]

@@durango-CODEBUILDER Yes I agree about his black and white work was very good.

[@dmlewey]

Of course they look like snapshots, that's the point of the colour and flash combo. But photographers know how much compositional finesse and subject interaction has gone into this.

[@rileyrichards8002]

Thought Martin Parr was so interesting until he started talking.

[@cheddarbaby]

we love a predatory street photographer reselling photos of strangers without their consent

[@belladonna5904]

That's the whole point of being a street photographer. If you're nervous about photos of strangers without a contract, don't do it..

[@Raevenswood]

You have no exception of privacy when you are out in a public space. There is nothing unethical about taking photos of people in public. On the other hand if he were violating someones privacy that would be another story. Also he's not using the work for commercial purposes he's making Art he's not using it to sell products or market corporate interests. If he were using it for those purposes he would need to get permission from the people.

[@petemc5070]

Yeah, and all those novelists who riffed their characters on people they knew there should be a massive bonfire and chuck them on too. Once it reaches Farhenheit 451 all will be well with the world.

[@yeohi]

Did you get the consent of the baby you're using for your profile picture?