Connecting essay 2- Martin Parr, Documentary - Family

Martin Parr- The Last Resort

My Image

I have chosen to discuss and compare the above two images despite their difference due to the fact that they also contain s number of similarities and are both part of the photo genre of documentary photography.

Martin Parr's image has a saturated tone as well as a number of colours which can also be found in my image such as the vast amounts of blue which make up the background of both my image and Parr's as well as the use of red which draws the eye into each image.  I feel that the saturated tone of these images helps to create the idea of an atmosphere of fun due to the fact that both pieces are part of documentary pieces which feature holidays.

Another similarity between both images is the fact that they both document family life on holiday opposed to other holiday groups such as youth and partygoers.  I feel that the focus on family in both images helps to link both pieces together.

The first obvious differences between the work of Parr and myself is the location which both images were taken and the time in which they were taken.  Parr's image's were shot at New Brighton in England between 1983 and 1935 in the middle of summer whereas my images were taken in Orlando, Florida in 2015 on New Years Eve.  This difference between date of photography has created a difference in quality whilst the difference between location has created a difference in image appearance.

The other difference between both images is the socio-economic classes featured in both images.  Martin Parr's work is largely a documentary series featuring working class families in the 1980's however it is also in parts a characicature of these families as many of the images taken are some of the most extreme examples.  My images however feature a more reserved family conducting themselves in a manner more acceptable for the time period.

If I were to further replicate Parr's work I may consider taking photographs at a beach in England in order to gain a more similar subject group as well as to recreate a bit of the aesthetic of Parr's images.  I could also look into finding a camera which is more typical of what would have been available at the time in order to create a similar quality images.