Martin Parr’s Unmistakable Style: A Guide for the Curious Photographer
Martin Parr, one of Britain’s most celebrated documentary photographers, has a unique ability to capture the wonderfully bizarre and often surreal theatre of everyday life. His work, particularly his iconic seaside photography, offers a masterclass in observation, technique, and storytelling. For anyone with a passion for photography, understanding Parr’s approach is both enlightening and inspiring.
From Black and White to Bold Colour: The Evolution of a Style
Parr’s journey began in the 1970s with the classic tool of serious photojournalism: a Leica M3 with a 35mm lens, used to capture stark black and white images. However, his move to colour in the 1980s defined his career. Rejecting the notion that colour was only for commercial work, he embraced its vibrant potential. Using a medium format Makina Plaubel camera and, most notably, an on-camera flash in broad daylight, he created the hyper-real, saturated look that made his Last Resort series so striking. This technique isolated his subjects against their backgrounds with crystalline clarity, highlighting every awkward detail and pop of colour.
The Beach as a Photographic Laboratory
Parr has often described the British seaside as his “laboratory”—a perfect testing ground for new ideas. It’s a space where social norms relax, and human behaviour becomes amplified, offering a rich tapestry of moments to capture. His method involves getting incredibly close to his subjects to create an intimate, sometimes uncomfortably direct, frame. Nothing is staged; his genius lies in anticipating a moment and capturing it with precision before the scene changes.
In recent years, his experimentation has continued with the shift to digital. Using cameras like the Canon EOS 5D Mark IV, he has played with wider angles and even telephoto lenses. This allows him to step back and observe broader scenes of action, offering a “different way of looking” while maintaining his sharp, critical yet affectionate eye for the peculiarities of British leisure.
Tips from the Master: How to Capture Your Own Seaside Stories
So, how can you incorporate a little of Martin Parr’s magic into your own photography? Here are a few key tips:
- Embrace the Flash in Daylight: Don’t save your flash for night-time. Using a fill-flash in bright sun can eliminate shadows and make your subjects pop, just like Parr’s work.
- Get Close (or Use a Zoom): Whether you’re comfortable getting up close with a standard lens or prefer to observe from a distance with a telephoto, focus on filling the frame with your subject and the telling details around them.
- Seek the Surreal: Look for the odd, the humorous, and the strangely beautiful in ordinary scenes. It’s the tension between the ideal day out and the slightly grimy reality that often creates the most compelling image.
- Be a Keen Observer: Patience is key. Watch and wait for the perfect alignment of people, objects, and expressions that tells a story.
Bringing Artistic Storytelling Into Your Home
Parr’s work reminds me that photography is about more than technique; it’s about narrative and perspective. This passion for capturing unique stories is something I see reflected in other fine art photography. For instance, if you are drawn to the narrative depth and symbolic power of the sea in art, you might enjoy exploring a different perspective in my own collection, The Mariner’s Dreams. This series explores the boundary between memory and mythology, using nautical themes to create evocative, contemplative pieces perfect for adding a layer of storytelling to your space.
Whether you’re a seasoned photographer or an art lover, Martin Parr’s work encourages us all to look closer at the world around us—you never know what surreal and wonderful scenes you might discover.
One Comment
Which aspect of Martin Parr’s seaside photography do you find most inspiring—the bold use of colour, the candid close-ups, or the way he finds humor in everyday moments?