We are just back from visiting the Martin Parr exhibition at Manchester Art Gallery. There are a lot of images to view and overall they make a very exciting and interesting exhibition. Well worth the visit.
A couple of things come to mind, firstly looking at the black and white shots from the 1970s. They are excellent reportage, no two ways about it. It's also rather daunting to look at some of the settings and realise that the house fittings that were our own everyday experience are now antiques....it will happen to us all. The pictures are great, presented as square blacvk and white prints, so probably shot with a Rolleiflex or similar medium format camera. On a technical note, the content may be fantastic, but the images are quite soft and rather grainy. I would have also printed them on a harder grade of paper, but then that's me not Martin Parr. The more recent colour shots are far sharper and probably digital.
There was a very interesting set of images where Parr shot a picture of a couple on the streets of Manchester, then a picture of each partner alone. The idea was a sort of game where we were invited to match up the couples. based on what we thought and whatever similarities of look and dress suggested there might be a link. Sue had a go and I helped and then, on the other side of the wall, were the couple pictures to show us who was really who. Ha! We got every single one wrong....hide our heads in shame!
I had the Pentax Q-S1 with me as we were travelling light, using the new Guided Busway to get into Manchester. It drops off just next to the art gallery, so it is very convenient. I hate travelling on buses, but sometimes it makes sense. The camera was set to mainly Bold Monochrome, as is my wont, with just one colour shot creeping in. Do get to the exhibition if you can, I'm sure you won't be disappointed.
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