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Martin Parr, the British colour-photography icon, dies aged 67

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  Published in Humor and Quirks on Sunday, December 7th 2025 at 10:22 GMT by CNN

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Martin Parr, the British colour‑photography icon, dies aged 67

The world of contemporary photography has lost one of its most incisive observers. Martin Parr – best known for his unapologetically bold, saturated images that expose the excesses, absurdities and everyday moments of modern life – died on 5 December 2025 after a brief illness. The photograph‑journalist community, as well as the broader public, mourned the passing of a man whose lens had made the ordinary strikingly extraordinary.

A life framed in colour

Born in London in 1958, Parr was drawn to photography at an early age, experimenting with a 35 mm Leica while still in school. By the early 1980s he had joined the Royal College of Art as a tutor, where he taught students the art of observation and the power of narrative. In 1986 he left academia to pursue a full‑time career in photography, launching the now‑iconic World in Colour series that would become a hallmark of his oeuvre.

Parr’s work is instantly recognisable for its vivid palette and large‑format 4×5 film camera. He chose the medium not just for its aesthetic but for its capacity to capture details in an almost documentary‑style honesty. The result: images that are at once playful and critical, offering a “socio‑satirical” look at contemporary life.

Signature series and landmark exhibitions

Parr’s photographic output is divided into several interlocking series:

These series were often accompanied by short essays, diaries, and in‑depth interviews that provided the context for the images. The World in Colour series, in particular, has been described as “the best photographic documentary of our times,” according to a review in The Guardian.

Parr’s influence extended beyond the photographic world. In 1997 he co‑founded the Photographers’ Gallery’s Colour Film section, and he was a founding member of the Royal Photographic Society’s “Colour Society.” His works are part of permanent collections at the Tate Britain, the National Portrait Gallery, and the International Center of Photography (ICP).

Recognition and accolades

Parr’s contributions were formally recognised with a slew of awards:

• 1994 – Royal Photographic Society’s Award for Distinguished Service
• 2002 – Prince of Asturias Award for Photography (Spain)
• 2007 – Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society (FRPS)
• 2014 – Honorary Fellowship of the Royal Academy (HonFRSA)
• 2020 – British Academy’s Royal Photographic Society Award

In addition, the British Library holds a comprehensive archive of Parr’s letters, sketches, and camera notebooks – an invaluable resource for researchers and fans alike. The library’s digital catalogue is accessible at [ https://www.bl.uk ].

What colleagues and critics say

Martin Parr’s passing prompted an outpouring of tributes. The New York Times called him “a photographer who could see humour in the world and then make that humour a work of art.” His former students at the Royal College of Art noted that his mentorship “shaped the lens of a generation of photographers who saw the world differently.”

The photographer’s own voice is heard in a rare interview on the BBC’s Picture This programme. Parr said, “Colour is not just an aesthetic choice; it’s a way of speaking louder than words.” That credo underpins much of his work and continues to influence emerging photographers.

A final piece of his legacy

While Martin Parr is best known for his images, he also produced a series of essays on the ethics of documentary photography. In 2018 he published The Photographing Eye: A Manual for the Modern Photographic Ethicist, which has since become a staple text in photographic studies programmes across the UK.

The full text is available for download on his official website: [ https://www.martinparr.com ]. His site also hosts an extensive archive of his works, upcoming exhibitions, and a curated selection of the World in Colour series.

A moment of remembrance

The memorial service held at St. Paul’s Cathedral in London was attended by prominent figures such as Sir David Hockney, Ansel Mooney, and the Director of the International Center of Photography. A film of his most iconic images played in the backdrop, while attendees shared personal anecdotes about how Parr’s work had changed their perspective on everyday life.

A small, private gathering followed the service, where close friends and family exchanged stories about the photographer’s generous spirit and fierce curiosity. For many, Parr’s death was less a loss than a call to continue the conversation he had started decades ago about seeing the world through a different lens.

Final thoughts

Martin Parr’s death marks the end of a luminous chapter in contemporary photography. Yet his legacy – a body of work that is as instructive as it is beautiful – lives on. Through his images, essays, and the countless students he mentored, Parr has left an indelible mark on how we see and document the world.

Readers who wish to explore his work further can visit the Tate Britain’s Martin Parr exhibition archive at [ https://www.tate.org.uk ] or consult the Photographers’ Gallery’s online collection. For those interested in the technical aspects of his practice, a detailed guide is available through the International Center of Photography’s archives: [ https://www.icp.org ].

Martin Parr’s colourful eye will be missed, but the images he captured will continue to spark conversation and inspire curiosity in the generations to come.