Visual Culture - The 1970s to the digital revolution.

From the 70's onward was a very exciting time in the photography world. Advances in technology with cameras, making them so small that they were able to go on a strap around your Neck and the introduction of colour film was to totally re-create the industry.

Martin Parr A Photographer that was heavily criticised for his subjects and style of photography. He was frowned upon for taking pictures of people that were deemed less fortunate thank him.

To me, I feel he's just showing parts of life that strike him as amazing or annoying. Take for example, his picture of the person eating a Bacon sandwich. He says even the Queen has the same issue as us. That we don't want the fat in our mouth and we try to work our way around it at all costs.

https://www.prospectmagazine.co.uk/blog/a-spotters-guide-to-martin-parr/

Maybe it's just the viewer taking offence to the images before trying to find out Parr's real reason for the image.

He takes lots of Images and uses a 'Ring Flash' this is almost like having a mini studio strapped to his Camera and is fantastic for close up shots.

http://www.art-days.com/martin-parr-1952/

http://www.photoforager.com/archives/martin-parr/martin-parr

Other major advances that are still used today were the age of digital photography. This was groundbreaking technology that would potentially bring most use for film to an end. A very worrying time for the manufacturers but a huge much needed boost to ready the industry for the 21st century.

Kodak DCS 100, 1991

http://www.whatdigitalcamera.com/news/537891/16-digital-cameras-that-changed-the-world.html

A Photographer that not only takes amazingly composed photographs but the people he takes the Photographs of are World Leaders and A list Celebrities.
My reason for being interested in him making photographs of these people is, although there are hundreds, possibly thousands of candid pictures of these people and Movies with them in. None of these pictures actually capture their true self.

Being able to get up close and personal with the likes of leader of the revolution of Libya Muammar Gaddafi and actually have a few moments of his time to be able to compose him for your own work is a pretty amazing.

http://www.rnw.nl/english/article/photographing-gaddafi

A technique Playton uses when photographing these high profile subjects is to shoot from a very low perspective. This gives the subject an aura of a God-like figure. making you feel almost dominated by the picture.

He says he's very clear about what his pictures read but finds it very interesting to hear how other viewers interpret them.

http://reelfoto.blogspot.co.uk/2011/06/platon-power-of-portrait.html

This image he was commissioned to take of President Bill Clinton was to be his last official Portrait as President. He was instructed to take a neutral, formal Headshot rather than putting his own signature style into the Photograph.

After this instruction Platon said to the President. "Mr President. Will you show me the love?" This obviously didn't go down too well with his staff but President Clinton assured everyone he understood what Platon was talking about.

Months after taking this image, there was a debate regarding the way it was composed. the way his Hands were placed so far in front of the rest of his body to give them a larger perspective to the rest of his body. The Smirk on his face, even down to the way his Tie is pointing to his Crotch. Some believe this was composed this way to signify how he got away with the things he was accused of.

Is this looking into a Photograph too much and making something of nothing?

Absolutely not!

If a simple image can create so many debates and controversy, simply from a Tie and a small trick of perspective then the Photographer won.

Not only does he take Photographs of World Leads but he also visited Egypt during the revolution. He set up a pop-up Studio in the Street and invited the people to sit for him.

He doesn't see his images as just 'images'. His images are more of a story.