MARTIN PARR & TOM WOOD

These two artists will be an essential part of inspiration for me as my progress and photo practice continues. Their vernacular/documentary style of photography will shape how I look at different subjects, and how even the most mundane subjects and events can be beautiful and interesting.

Tom Wood http://tomwoodarchive.com/

Often takes photos "on the streets, in pubs and clubs, markets, workplaces, parks and football grounds" of "strangers, mixed with neighbours, family and friends". He is best known for the photographs taken in Liverpool and Merseyside during the late 70s to early noughties, and has gained a lot of commercial success. Wood is published in several books, had numerous solo exhibitions and received a number of awards.

Below are some of his images that I'll take inspiration from.

I love the inclusion of people within these photos, they appear unposed and real, not acknowledging the camera and being captured in a real life situation. The framing isn't perfect either, with the third photo titled drastically, I think this works for the documentary style that Wood is known for, as if he's sneakily taking the photo without his subjects noticing. These photos feel really invasive, especially the last two (with people kissing), capturing a moment we'd usually look away from creates a really interesting image and sets the tone for the environment he is in. The third photo is very different, I love how he captured the raindrops on the window, with the city background blurred out in the background.

Martin Parr https://www.martinparr.com/

Parr's work "offer(s) us the opportunity to see the world from his unique perspective". His style is instantly recognised with garish colours, and strange placement of subjects (when not shooting vernacularly). This artist captures a lot of photos in seaside towns, like Blackpool, near where I grew up. He captures the tackiness of these places including night outs, bachelorette parties, fish and chips and tourism, all exaggerated with his choice of bold colours and tones.

Here are some photos of Parr's that I'll take inspiration from.

Although these are all quite different in aesthetic, they all follow a similar narrative and theoretical tone, displaying real people in real situations, even if those situations aren't the prettiest. Again, I love how these photos are real and the subjects within them don't acknowledge the camera and get on with their lives. These photos differ from Wood's as they have a less of a mundane tone, often relating to themes of tourism, with the illuminations in Blackpool and the seaside resort. The bold colours exaggerate the tourist tone that Blackpool is so known for.