Martin Parr (Britsh, 1952- ) was born in Epsom, Surrey, U.K. When he was a boy, his budding interest in the medium of photography was encouraged by his grandfather George Parr, himself a keen amateur photographer. Parr studied photography at Manchester Polytechnic, from 1970 to 1973. Since that time, he has worked on numerous photographic projects. He has developed an international reputation for his innovative imagery, his oblique approach to social documentary, and his input to photographic culture within the UK and abroad. In 1994 he became a full member of Magnum Photographic Corporation. In recent years, Parr has developed an interest in film-making and has started to use his photography within different conventions, such as fashion and advertising. In 2002 a large retrospective of Parr's work was initiated by the Barbican Art Gallery and the National Museum.