Five quick questions with Martin Parr

Don't miss Martin Parr on the Super Stage at The Photography Show 2019

This year's Super Stage at The Photography Show will be headlined by Martin Parr, the star of British street photography. 

The legendary Magnum Photos photographer will take to the stage on the opening day of the event (Saturday 16 March at 3.30pm) to talk about his career. 

And he will conclude with a taster of his new exhibition – Only Human opens on 7 March at the National Portrait Gallery in London. 

Tickets for the Super Stage speakers are available online now for £12 each. The talks will be held in the Toute Suite, just outside the main hall of The Photography Show

To whet your appetite, we asked Martin to take some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions… 

Five questions with Martin Parr

1. You define a Martin Parr image as a bright, colourful and cheery scene with a serious strand. When looking to frame your next shot, what’s the hardest of these elements to find? 

Finding a strong design to carry the image is the hardest part. You have to make some order of our chaotic world. 

Pisa, 1990. From 'Small World'

Pisa, 1990. From 'Small World' (Image credit: Image: Martin Parr/Magnum Photo)

2. How much has the ability to print your pictures larger and at higher quality than before changed the way you approach photography? 

The quality of the digital files from a DSLR these days is mind-blowing. So I am getting the same quality that I was from a medium-format camera in the analogue days. 

Westbay, 1996

Westbay, 1996 (Image credit: Image: Martin Parr/Magnum Photo)

3. In these times of narrow and extreme views amplified by social media, do we need documentary photography more than ever? 

We always need it as the world changes so fast, and especially when it's not changing in a good way. 

Gulf Art Fair, Dubai 2007.

Gulf Art Fair, Dubai 2007. (Image credit: Image: Martin Parr/Magnum Photo)

4. You’ve said that the tension between love and hate for Britain gives your images an edge. Can you think of a Martin Parr image that captures both in the same frame? 

In my upcoming show at the National Portrait Gallery, the last and biggest section is called ‘Britain in the Time of Brexit’, so please come and view this to see what I mean. 

Ascot, 1999. From 'Think of England'

Ascot, 1999. From 'Think of England' (Image credit: Image: Martin Parr/Magnum Photo)

5. Your photographs of people enjoying downtime offer an intriguing insight to their lives. Which leisure pursuits do you enjoy and what do they tell us about Martin Parr? 

It's tough for me to take holidays as photography is my hobby after all! However a good walk in the beautiful countryside can make me leave my camera at home, as I don't want to photograph landscapes! 

Booking details

Martin Parr will be speaking on the Super Stage at 3.30pm on Saturday 16 March 2019. Tickets cost £12.

There are over 200 exhibitors and over 300 free talks and demonstrations at The Photography Show, and the sister Video Show. Tickets for the show itself are available from here.  You can get 25% off advance, single-day, adult tickets using the code DCAMTPS19 if you book by March 13.

Don't miss the other Super Stage speakers 

Image

Lindsay Adler
Leading New York fashion photographer

Join renowned American fashion photographer, Lindsay Adler as she discusses how she went from ordinary photographs to extraordinary image making. Based in New York City, her fashion images have appeared in numerous publications including Marie Claire, In Style, Elle, Harper’s Bazaar and more.
Read <a href="https://www.digitalcameraworld.com/news/tps-five-quick-questions-with-lindsay-adler" data-link-merchant="digitalcameraworld.com"" target="_blank">Five Quick Questions with Lindsay Adler

Monday 18 March 2019, 1.15pm

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Gordon Buchanan
Presenter & cinematographer of BBC's Animals with cameras

The TV presenter and wildlife filmmaker recounts the weird, wild and wonderful stories of shooting nature programs around the world over the last 25 years

Tuesday 19 March 2019, 3.30pm

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Chris Burkard
Surfing and outdoor photographer and renown Instagrammer

Instagram sensation Chris Burkard shares some of the greatest lessons he has gained from behind the lens. From being thrown in a Russian jail cell, to swimming in near-freezing water, his stories are more than just pieces of advice for his fellow photographers, they create the wisdom that he says can only be learned the hard way.

Tuesday 19 March 2019, 1.15pm

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Annie Griffiths
One of the first women to work for National Geographic

Annie Griffiths shares her journey from a rural Minnesota newspaper to the pages of National Geographic Magazine and beyond – and discusses how photography can be used as force for good.

Sunday 17 March 2019, 3.30pm

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Moose Peterson
One of America's best-loved wildlife photographers

From birds to planes – Moose is a passionate and innovative wildlife photographer, who has more recently added aircraft photography to his skill set. 

Sunday 17 March 2019, 1.15pm

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Pete Souza
Chronicled Barack Obama's years as US president

Pete Souza speaks about his award-winning career as a photojournalist, and about his job working as a White House photographer covering the presidency of Barack Obama

Saturday 16 March 2019, 1.15pm

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Niall Hampton
Editor

Niall is the editor of Digital Camera Magazine, and has been shooting on interchangeable lens cameras for over 20 years, and on various point-and-shoot models for years before that. 


Working alongside professional photographers for many years as a jobbing journalist gave Niall the curiosity to also start working on the other side of the lens. These days his favored shooting subjects include wildlife, travel and street photography, and he also enjoys dabbling with studio still life. 


On the site you will see him writing photographer profiles, asking questions for Q&As and interviews, reporting on the latest and most noteworthy photography competitions, and sharing his knowledge on website building.