Martin Parr is many things - filmmaker, exhibition curator - but is primarily one of the foremost documentary photographers of his generation. He has captured the cameraphones and sun-chasers of tourism in Cuba, the contradictions of life in Belfast, and the hustle of Milan Fashion week. Perhaps his previous Unseen City collection sets the precedent for this new Oxford series: allowed behind the scenes of City of London ceremonies and high-profile occasions, Parr captured both the regalia and the rain-soaked crowds. Sceptres and top hats are framed squarely, or shown to be absurd without their wearers; people struggle to get umbrellas up, and stand bolt upright when the Queen (unseen) approaches.
Having long been fascinated by the inner workings of Oxbridge, this documenter of English traditions was given the opportunity to work with the Bodleian and the OUP across three years. The results show his customary wit: a bustling 'trashing' scene is full of laughter, silly string and those ever-present cameraphones; a porter is captured in the tall oblong pane of glass in his window, as if he were Zero in Wes Anderson's Grand Budapest Hotel. Go along to this free exhibition to see how the tortoise guardians fare under Parr's lens - it constitutes part of PHOTO OXFORD 2017 and launches Parr's new book of the same work.
