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Bad Weather (signed)

by Martin Parr

Photographs: Martin Parr

Text: Michael Fishen Peter Turner

Publisher: TBS The Book Service Ltd

64 pages

Pictures: 54 black and white illustrations

Year: 1982

ISBN: 0302999965

Comments: first edition; softcover; very good condition- new

Martin Parr – Book Number 1.

Although famous for his satirical humour, saturated ring-flashed aesthetic, a lesser seen work is the black and white book, ‘Bad Weather’. His first book was influential on me at the start of my photographic journey. I found great inspiration in the fact that you didn’t require expensive equipment to produce beautiful work. The way photography could turn the mundane vernacular into something new. A great challenge. 2 years later, retrospectively I have returned.

It is worth noting, the British have an obsession with the weather. On my recent travels to California, an uncle did reprimand me for always talking about the weather! I suppose, it is a rather peculiar obsession. The whole system of weather prediction requires an obsessive analysis of pressures, temperatures, and wind directions. The fact Parr records the images in snow, rain, fog, is testament to his obsessive nature. The dark, grainy images are reminiscent of say, Moriyama/Fukase than the hyper-colourful Parr we all know so well. Martin, I noted, does have an appreciation of some of the most exquisite Japanese photo books. It may be important to note that he started the project using a 35mm Leica/black and white film in the ‘traditional documentary style’ popular at the time for ‘serious’ photographers.#

> see also Martin Parr's fine art prints

More books by Martin Parr