Unless it hurts, unless there’s some vulnerability there, I don’t think you’re going to get good photographs. Martin Parr More Quotes by Martin Parr More Quotes From Martin Parr I just go out and try to make sense of the world around me. Martin Parr try go me world Personally, I don't take holidays; I go on trips. My idea of relaxing is taking a trip that isn't commissioned. I'll work just as hard, but without that nagging pressure of fulfilling a commission. Now that's what I call a holiday. Martin Parr holidays holiday pressure work We live in a homogenized world, where it's hard to get excited when everything is slick and professional. The interesting things are the dull things. Martin Parr professional live everything world When someone says to you, 'Oh, I don't take a good picture,' what they mean is they haven't come to terms with how they look. They take a fine picture, it's just that their image of how they think they look is not in touch with the reality. Martin Parr picture good look you My father was an obsessive bird-watcher. The genes of observation passed down. Martin Parr down observation genes father Margaret Thatcher was very good for the arts in so far as it gave people a real focus for something to be against. Martin Parr good focus real people Sometimes you feel uncomfortable taking a photograph, but that's all part of the job. Martin Parr feel job you sometimes Modern technology has taken the angst out of achieving the perfect shot. For me, the only thing that counts is the idea behind the image: what you want to see and what you're trying to say. The idea is crucial. You have to think of something you want to say and expand upon it. Martin Parr think me you technology Of course, New Brighton is very shabby, very rundown, but people still go there because it's the place where you take kids out on a Sunday. Martin Parr new place you people Photography is, by its nature, exploitative. It's whether you use this process with a sense of responsibility or not. I feel that I do so. My conscience is clear. Martin Parr feel you nature responsibility There are elements of irony in my work, of course. Martin Parr course irony elements work Fashion pictures show people looking glamorous. Travel pictures show a place looking at its best, nothing to do with the reality. In the cookery pages, the food always looks amazing, right? Most of the pictures we consume are propaganda. Martin Parr best food people travel If you go to the supermarket and buy a package of food and look at the photo on the front, the food never looks like that inside, does it? That is a fundamental lie we are sold every day. Martin Parr day look you food Photographers never want to talk about the fact that they may well be in decline. It's the greatest taboo subject of all. Martin Parr well talk never want If there is any jarring at all in my photographs, it's because we are so used to ingesting pictures of everywhere looking beautiful. Martin Parr pictures looking because beautiful When I am in London, all I do is mix with other people in the arts. Martin Parr i-am arts london people I don't like being flattered. It doesn't suit my English sensibilities. Remember, we are the great country of understatement. Martin Parr great like remember country