Martin Parr (1952) – the most recognisable British documentary photographer. Presently an icon of post-modern photography, he concentrated mainly on the industrial landscapes of Northern England in the 1970s (Bad Weather 1982, A Fair Day 1984). Since 1984 he has been taking distinctive colour photographs. His first colour series was Last Resort: Photographs of New Brighton (1986), in which he continued observations of Britons in their leisure time, in the spirit of Tony Ray-Jones. Much like Ray-Jones, Martin Parr also collects postcards. Some of them, made by John Hinde, are direct inspirations for his colour photographs. Parr’s series include Signs of the Times: A Portrait of the Nation’s Tastes (1992), an unflinching summary of the customs and tastes of contemporary Britons.

Photo: Martin Parr, England. Bristol. Garden Open Day.

From 'The Cost of Living'. 1986-1988. © Martin Parr / Magnum Photos

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