New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985

Martin Parr New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985.

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985

Martin Parr New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985.

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985.

Martin Parr  Martin Parr

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985.

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985

  Martin Parr

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985.

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985

Martin Parr

New Brighton, from the series Last Resort, 1983-1985

Influenced by Martin Parr.

Martin Parr is a British documentary photographer, born 23 May 1952. He is a photographer for one of  the biggest photographic society magnum. I have been inspired by his work. Such as 'The last resort' where he captures people in doing what they are enjoying, whilst on holiday.  Enjoying and looking natural in the environment they are in and that's the same kind of thing that I want to do.

A Young Man Gathering Shopping Carts, Huntington, NY, July 1993.

A Young Man Gathering Shopping Carts, Huntington, NY, July 1993
from Stranger Passing
Ektacolor print mounted on plexi
Edition of 7 with 3 artist's proofs
36 X 45 1/2 inches (91.44 X 115.57 cm

New Jersey, (#26), May/June 1980.

New Jersey, (#26), May/June 19801980
Pigment print
From an edition of 5 and 2 artist's proofs
Image size: 8 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches
Frame size: 13 x 17 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches

California, (#4), 1977.

California, (#4), 19771977
Pigment print
From an edition of 5 and 2 artist's proofs
Image size: 8 1/2 x 12 3/4 inches
Frame size: 13 x 17 1/4 x 1 1/2 inches

Boys Walking Home After School, Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 1999.

Boys Walking Home After School, Harrisonburg, Virginia, May 1999
from Stranger Passing
Ektacolor print mounted on plexi
Edition of 7 with 3 artist's proofs
36 X 45 1/2 inches (91.44 X 115.57 cm)

Summer Interns Having Lunch, Wall Street, New York, New York, August 1987

Summer Interns Having Lunch, Wall Street, New York, New York, August 1987
from Stranger Passing
Ektacolor print mounted on plexi
Edition of 7 with 3 artist's proofs
36 X 45 1/2 inches (91.44 X 115.57 cm)


I like this photograph. It is what i want to do capture people in their environment.
This is what i want to do. i really feel like i can relate to the photographs i want to do, when i look at Joel's work.This photo amuses me as the both look unimpressed. I like his framing and his depth of field.

A Lawyer with Laundry, New York, October 1988

Photograph by, Joel Sternfeld.

A Lawyer with Laundry, New York, New York, October 1988
from Stranger Passing
Ektacolor print mounted on plexi
Edition of 7 with 3 artist's proofs
36 1/4 X 45 3/4 inches (92.08 X 116.21 cm)

This are the kind of portraits I want to do.
I really like this photograph because you can really get the feel for the environment.
He doesn't really seem like he should be in the area. He is all suited and booted, and the place seems rundown. Also i think it's funny how casualy he is carrying his laundry.

Influenced by Joel Sternfeld.

Joel Sternfeld - http://www.joelsternfeld.com/

(I don't have a clue how to get into his website, but i thought I'll still put it on for reference. If you find out how to get into it, tell me, please!)

Joel Sternfeld is a fine art colour photographer from America.
I have been influenced by his Environmental portraits.

The work of Joel's I have been influenced by are, 'American Prospects' and  'Stranger Passing'.

'Stranger Passing' - This book was released in 2001 and consists of social class and stereotypes in America. I like this work as it shows the different people in their environment as intend to.

 'American Prospects' -  This is Sternfeld's most known book and explores the irony of human-altered landscapes in the United States. Joel photographed ordinary things, including unsuccessful towns and barren-looking landscapes. This collection was made into a book by 1987.


I like how he shows people and how they fit into or don't fit into their environment. In these pieces of work.
Also I like the way he captures and presents his photographs.  He doesn't take a portrait of someone with a narrow depth of field or a landscape with the people blurred out. He pays attention to both the people and the surroundings in his photographs. That is what I would like to do.

Joel's photographs seem to have a story and meaning behind them, a story to be shown. This influences me as I want my work to be meaningful and tell a story, like how he does.

Decided On Environmental Portraits

I decided that I would go for Environmental Portraits.

The aim of this project would be to highlight the differences between Hinckley where I currently live and London where I did live. I would do this by putting photographs next to another in comparison.
For example a busy London high street next to a photograph of Hinckleys town centre.
Showing things such as cultural, population and scenery differences.

Also I wanted to show how things are different in everyday life. For example I had an idea of putting a picture of a person from each place at a bus stand. The photograph in Hinckley would have a small blue, orange or white bus with someone holding their bus ticket, or money. With a few people in the background of the picture. But the same photograph in London would have a busy background, a big red city bus with someone holding their Oyster Card.





Here is an example of landscapes next to another in comparison. The same kind of concept is going on in each photograph. And shows what I would aim to do. These images are from Google Maps, Satellite View. I decided to put them together as it presents my idea well.

The Beginning.

First Thoughts.

I had a couple of ideas for the FMP, and i was fairly confident and excited for them.

Here are some of the ideas:

• Film Cover/Posters, and movie stills.I liked this idea as I felt I could really push the boundaries with the images I could create, with creativity and editing software such as Photoshop. I could have many different themes that go along with movie genres. For example Romance, Horror and Action. This was also an idea that i thought would keep me occupied throughout the duration of the project.
• Environmental portraits of Hinckley and London.I really liked the idea of the environmental portraits. I decided on environmental portraits after trying to make myself decided between a landscape based project or a portrait based project.
  Environmental portraits allow me to merge both ideas together.
  
  I wanted to go around Hinckley and London and compare the difference between everyday things, such as the people, places, surroundings and the way of lifestyles. And show the differences that I saw after moving from London to Hinckley.
  
  I liked the idea of this for my FMP as it is really personal to me.
• Landscapes of the local area and surroundings.
  
  I thought about doing a project on landscapes of the local area. Taking photographs at different times and on different days and generally just showing of the area around me. I do like landscape photography, So I thought this would be a good idea. Although I wasn't to sure on this idea as i knew as the town i live in is small, i could get bored easily.
• Mens Fashion.I love men's high street fashion at the moment! So I wanted to do a fashion shoot, in the street. I like the the youthful vibe running through the clothing. Looking through 'Vice' magazine is what mainly gave me my inspiration for the kind of style I wanted to go for. Also advertising photos that you would see in places like 'Top man' advertisements I wanted to highlight brands that are big at the moment like Vans, Obey, Jack Wills, Fred Perry. I wanted to pay attention to accessories like Snapbacks, New Era and other hats, and headphones. Also i wanted close photographs paying attention to the way things are worn. For example a hat with a tilt, or hooded jackets strings tied in bows.