That’s a really sad day for the Small World of photography. Farewell my king.

Just read about this. Very very sad. Knew he was ill but kind of figured (hoped) he'd still be around for a few more years. R.I.P.

Still remember when he came in here to post.

Poagao:

Didn't know that. Do you have a link to it?

Poagao

Martin Parr to HCSP: Buy this book, its great!
HCSP to Martin Parr: Drop Dead!

Haha, yeah. Eamon Doyle’s thing, wasn’t it?

youtu.be/S7ULlEIwqTs?si=0YPA6xu0HbwPhNLz
Mentioned briefly here during an interview about his new autobiography which was done a couple of months ago.

That was a weird incident when he posted to HCSP many years back. I think he used a pseudonym? And I believe it was the first and last time he posted here. He was hyping Eamon Doyle's first photobook, which everyone could see was a steaming pile of shit. The emperor had no clothes. HCSP was the Wild West back then and the board let him have it. But for whatever reason Martin Parr was a big fan. And with his backing the book sold out and became quite collectible (no thanks to HCSP, haha). That just shows you how much power Parr had in the photobook world. He could make or break a book with one sentence. He was probably the world's foremost expert on photobooks and the biggest private collector. But even the cognoscenti are wrong on occasion. Parr was of course an amazing photographer in his own right. He will be missed.

Thread in question:
www.flickr.com/groups/onthestreet/discuss/721576432548522...

Book was called, i

Thanks for the link. That thread had a little bit of everything, including contributions from Parr and fake Alex Webb troll, all published on April Fool's Day. The most farsighted advice is from David Solomons: "Buy 50 copies and use as a step ladder. In a couple of years time when the value of it tenfolds you should be able to gain a sizeable return on your investment." Used copies are now $500+

I have a copy still, but can't be arsed to sell; as with all my books.

Probably some would have been okay for, 'Shots of Back Are Boring', but that's about it.

It's just backs of old people, and that's it. Not really hard to do. About as hard as going out and photographing elbows. /s

Didn't really think much of the book upon reflection.

His later work [Doyle] I didn't really feel much about. A lot seemed too hip-shotty to me and he came across as more of a 'visual artist' than a street photographer imo. But who am I to define what a SP shot should be. . .

I don't know what success he had back then, or has had thereafter - all the best to those that find it though.

All said and done, Doyle excluded in this instance (no offense), I think there's a lot to learn of Parr and subsequent new-comers to this place should be encouraged to take note.

I love Small World and Last Resort, and Parr was certainly a huge influence on a lot of people. He did a lot to rid Magnum of its old image and drag it into (relatively) modern times. That said, I've yet to come up with any reason why the Doyle book is worth even the regular purchase price, much less the currently inflated one.

Thanks for the trip down memory lane, though.

It does make me wonder if, had he not had some connection to Parr, if anyone would ever have heard of Doyle. Similarly, I can't help but wonder if, were it not for his connection to Winogrand, anyone would have heard of Papageorge. And countless other cases, I suppose. But I guess we'll never know.

gentleman Photographer and artist , with his P Makina in the day RIP .

Its weird seeing my posts in that thread. I was far more opinionated then, than I am now.
Such a great loss to the photography world, he was a true legend.
Recently I was thinking of going to Bristol to visit the foundation, such a shame.