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| Martin Parr |
Atlanta shut down for approximately three days as we were
weathering a winter storm. While we
were stuck inside my shooting schedule had to change. I had planned to shoot all three days we were
locked up. I had to reschedule my
shooting for after the storm so the question became what will I do during the
storm?
One thing I am learning from is the study of great
photographers. To study their work
inspires me. To see them do what they do
and talk about their work gives me ideas and makes me look at my work and the
creative process in new and exciting ways.
During my time of being locked up I spent time with Martin
Parr. You can pick your mentors. Where I may never meet Martin Parr nothing
can stop me from spending hours looking at his images and scouring over Youtube
and Vimeo videos that feature him and therefore he becomes a mentor. I spent three solid days in my self designed
Martin Parr workshp. Spent hours looking
at Martin Parr’s books:
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| Martin Parr: Home and Abroad |
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| Marin Parr: The Non-Conformists The Non-Conformists |
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| Martin Parr: Life's a Beach Life's A Beach |
Of Parr's work these three (above) are my favorites with Martin Parr: The Non-Conformists being the one that is presently in my bag. The life he brings to the mill town of Hebden Bridge is simply amazing. He took five years to document this town. Simply amazing work!
I watched twenty-five videos that featured him. The one that I liked the most was:
No Worries: Martin Parr – FotoFreo 2012
You see Martin Parr going about his work. He is cool, calm and collected when he does
what he does. He walks, is patient and
spends time literally in the midst of those he is connecting with as he creates
images. This moves me to be more
patient. It isn’t about how many images
I take per day but how many connections I make each day. It is through seeing and connecting that the
images will emerge.
Parr connects with the spirit of the people and the
experience he is photographing. I have
to connect. To get the story, to get the
image, to capture the spirit it takes connection. Parr understands the backstory to the story
he is photographing. He helps me see the
key is not so much the bigger picture but rather the details. He says, “My job
as a photographer is to turn those details into images that can communicate to
a larger audience.” While not disregarding the bigger picture, it is those
small details, those thing the average person would miss that the photographer
must see.
To see him interact with those he was photographing and
sometimes even coaching them “not to smile” was something that I don’t do when
doing street photography. Parr showed me
the need to engage and talk with those I am photographing and not be afraid to
set up the photo. If the set up is true
to the setting and you are using props that bring the image alive then use it.
Parr records what he calls “normal life.” This was good for me to hear. We can record “normal life” because life as
lived is worthy of being recorded by the professional photographer. This “vernacular” photography is worthy of
what we do. Thanks Martin Parr for depositing in yet another way of seeing and
creating. Now off to shoot…..the storm
has passed and I must go and create. Who
are your mentors? Who are you listening
to? Whose is inspiring you to take your
craft to a new level?
