--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I looked around at what my colleagues…" description: "\"I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's going on?' I found there was a great distorti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png" --- # I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and… ![“I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's going on?' I found there was a great distortion of contemporary life. Photographers were interested only in certain things. A visually interesting place, people who were either very rich or…” quote by Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png) > “I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's going on?' I found there was a great distortion of contemporary life. Photographers were interested only in certain things. A visually interesting place, people who were either very rich or very poor, and nostalgia.” [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The observer notes that photographers focus on visually striking subjects—extremes of wealth, poverty, and nostalgic scenes—missing the broader, nuanced reality of everyday life. **In simple terms:** Photography often highlights extremes over everyday nuance. Key Takeaway Focus on extremes distorts reality. Themes visual storytelling social critique nostalgia inequality modern life Mood reflective critical thoughtful Type observation social commentary When to use this quote - documentary projects - media reporting - art exhibitions - academic research - social media content Key Concepts subject selection perspective bias cultural representation Practical Applications - critical analysis of visual media - curating inclusive photographic narratives Questions to Reflect On - How does selective visual focus shape public perception? - What responsibilities do photographers have in representing everyday life? A Different Perspective While focusing on extremes can provoke strong emotional responses, it may also reinforce stereotypes and overlook the complexity of ordinary experiences. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Colleagues](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/colleagues/) [Contemporary life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/contemporary-life/) [Distortion](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/distortion/) [Interesting places](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/interesting-places/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Nostalgia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nostalgia/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Photographer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photographer/) [Photography](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/photography/) [Temporary Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/temporary-life/) ## Related quotes > [It is a tribute to the peculiar horror of contemporary life that it makes the worst features of earlier times -- the stupefaction of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/christopher-lasch/it-is-a-tribute-to-the-peculiar-horror-of-contemporary-life-that-it/) [Christopher Lasch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/christopher-lasch/) > [The major impediment to experiencing the sacred depths of ordinary moments is the speed and distraction of contemporary life that moves to the imperatives…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sam-keen/the-major-impediment-to-experiencing-the-sacred-depths-of-ordinary/) [Sam Keen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sam-keen/) > [There is much to be said in favor of modern journalism. By giving us the opinions of the uneducated, it keeps us in touch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/there-is-much-to-be-said-in-favor-of-modern-journalism-by-giving-us/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [I wanted to revolutionise habits and contemporary life - to liberate nature, to free it from the authority of old theories and classicism... I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maurice-de-vlaminck/i-wanted-to-revolutionise-habits-and-contemporary-life-to-liberate/) [Maurice de Vlaminck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maurice-de-vlaminck/) > [I write about the trials and triumphs of contemporary life - and often the readers see themselves between the lines of the story.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/karen-kingsbury/i-write-about-the-trials-and-triumphs-of-contemporary-life-and-often/) [Karen Kingsbury](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/karen-kingsbury/) > [We need it to capture the energy of contemporary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-eaton/we-need-it-to-capture-the-energy-of-contemporary-life/) [John Eaton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-eaton/) > [Novels, except as aids to masturbation, play no part in contemporary life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gore-vidal/novels-except-as-aids-to-masturbation-play-no-part-in-contemporary/) [Gore Vidal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gore-vidal/) > [I'm interested in the way in which the past affects the present and I think that if we understand a good deal more about…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/toni-morrison/i-m-interested-in-the-way-in-which-the-past-affects-the-present-and-i/) [Toni Morrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/toni-morrison/) > [The public examination of homosexuality in our contemporary life is still so coated with distasteful moral connotations that even a reviewer is bound to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sydney-j-harris/the-public-examination-of-homosexuality-in-our-contemporary-life-is/) [Sydney J. Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sydney-j-harris/) > [What need had the businessman to scribble or philosophize when he dominated the imagination of his time and the frantic materialism that was his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-kazin/what-need-had-the-businessman-to-scribble-or-philosophize-when-he/) [Alfred Kazin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-kazin/) > [The most difficult problems are naturally not involved in the search for forms for contemporary life. It is a question of working our way…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alvar-aalto/the-most-difficult-problems-are-naturally-not-involved-in-the-search/) [Alvar Aalto](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alvar-aalto/) > [In the creation of a garden, the architect invites the partnership of the Kingdom of Nature. In a beautiful garden the majesty of nature…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luis-barragan/in-the-creation-of-a-garden-the-architect-invites-the-partnership-of/) [Luis Barragan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luis-barragan/) > [I think we as people struggle for what is meaningful in our lives, and I think that modern, contemporary life is as easy as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carrie-brownstein/i-think-we-as-people-struggle-for-what-is-meaningful-in-our-lives-and/) [Carrie Brownstein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carrie-brownstein/) > [Body and soul, Black America reveals the extreme questions of contemporary life, questions of freedom and identity: How can I be who I am?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/june-jordan/body-and-soul-black-america-reveals-the-extreme-questions-of/) [June Jordan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/june-jordan/) > [All ideas about identity, of course, fit perfectly into the social media wonderland we live in. They seem to really connect. There's a science-fiction…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vijay-seshadri/all-ideas-about-identity-of-course-fit-perfectly-into-the-social/) [Vijay Seshadri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vijay-seshadri/) ## More by Martin Parr > [Taking photos is a form of collecting.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/taking-photos-is-a-form-of-collecting/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Most of the photographs people take with their cameraphones are of little value in terms of documentary.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/most-of-the-photographs-people-take-with-their-cameraphones-are-of/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [When I am in London, all I do is mix with other people in the arts.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/when-i-am-in-london-all-i-do-is-mix-with-other-people-in-the-arts/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Fashion pictures show people looking glamorous. Travel pictures show a place looking at its best, nothing to do with the reality. In the cookery…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/fashion-pictures-show-people-looking-glamorous-travel-pictures-show-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Tourism is the biggest industry in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/tourism-is-the-biggest-industry-in-the-world/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [In the '70s, in Britain, if you were going to do serious photography, you were obliged to work in black-and-white. Color was the palette…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/in-the-70s-in-britain-if-you-were-going-to-do-serious-photography-you/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Nobody thinks about technical issues anymore because cameras or camera phones take care of that automatically. On the other hand, you still have the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/nobody-thinks-about-technical-issues-anymore-because-cameras-or/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [As we travel around Britain, I am convinced most of us cannot really appreciate what we are seeing. We take too much for granted,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/as-we-travel-around-britain-i-am-convinced-most-of-us-cannot-really/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I toyed with the notion of being an actor, and am so glad that this whim did not go any further.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-toyed-with-the-notion-of-being-an-actor-and-am-so-glad-that-this/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Photos tend to organize chaos, to define what we're doing here. It is essential that individuals' voices depict the world around us, as we…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/photos-tend-to-organize-chaos-to-define-what-we-re-doing-here-it-is/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [We live in a difficult but inspiring world, and there is so much out there that I want to record.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/we-live-in-a-difficult-but-inspiring-world-and-there-is-so-much-out/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [My father was an obsessive bird-watcher. The genes of observation passed down.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/my-father-was-an-obsessive-bird-watcher-the-genes-of-observation/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Photographers never want to talk about the fact that they may well be in decline. It's the greatest taboo subject of all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/photographers-never-want-to-talk-about-the-fact-that-they-may-well-be/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [I am a big fan of Jim Jarmusch, and I do love big screen documentaries.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-am-a-big-fan-of-jim-jarmusch-and-i-do-love-big-screen-documentaries/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) > [Criticism is hypocrisy; society is hypocrisy. I'm a tourist. I'm a consumer. I do the things that I photograph and can be criticized of.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/criticism-is-hypocrisy-society-is-hypocrisy-i-m-a-tourist-i-m-a/) [Martin Parr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) [Explore all 107 Martin Parr quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/) ## More Certain quotes > [I am certain that children always know more than they are able to tell, and that makes the big difference between them and adults,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jacques-lusseyran/i-am-certain-that-children-always-know-more-than-they-are-able-to/) [Jacques Lusseyran](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jacques-lusseyran/) > [One can put some trust in the gratitude of a sovereign, and also in that of his family; under certain conditions, one can even…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/otto-von-bismarck/one-can-put-some-trust-in-the-gratitude-of-a-sovereign-and-also-in/) [Otto von Bismarck](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/otto-von-bismarck/) > [For successful education there must always be a certain freshness in the knowledge dealt with. It must be either new in itself or invested…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alfred-north-whitehead/for-successful-education-there-must-always-be-a-certain-freshness-in/) [Alfred North Whitehead](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alfred-north-whitehead/) > [People don't always realize that a record is forever. It'll always be there under your name. You've got to be certain that it's right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frank-iero/people-don-t-always-realize-that-a-record-is-forever-it-ll-always-be/) [Frank Iero](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frank-iero/) > [Faith gives you a certain structure and meaning to your life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/riffat-hassan/faith-gives-you-a-certain-structure-and-meaning-to-your-life/) Riffat Hassan > [I started out dancing on a reality TV show, but always with the intention of making my way over to film. I transitioned into…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-hough/i-started-out-dancing-on-a-reality-tv-show-but-always-with-the/) [Julianne Hough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-hough/) > [One of the deepest and strangest of all human moods is the mood which will suddenly strike us perhaps in a garden at night,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-of-the-deepest-and-strangest-of-all-human-moods-is-the-mood-which/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A dialogue is very important. It is a form of communication in which question and answer continue till a question is left without an…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jiddu-krishnamurti/a-dialogue-is-very-important-it-is-a-form-of-communication-in-which/) [Jiddu Krishnamurti](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jiddu-krishnamurti/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [Why do we love certain homes, and why do they seem to love us? It is the warmth of our individual hearts reflected in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/t-h-robsjohn-gibbings/why-do-we-love-certain-homes-and-why-do-they-seem-to-love-us-it-is/) T. H. Robsjohn-Gibbings > [Human life consists of doing certain things ... to take part in the life of the community; to be able to talk about subjects…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amartya-sen/human-life-consists-of-doing-certain-things-to-take-part-in-the-life/) [Amartya Sen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amartya-sen/) > [We've all seen talented young players who get to a certain level but there comes a point where that talent will only take you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/warren-gatland/we-ve-all-seen-talented-young-players-who-get-to-a-certain-level-but/) [Warren Gatland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/warren-gatland/) > [The concept of humanity is an especially useful ideological instrument of imperialist expansion, and in its ethical-humanitarian form it is a specific vehicle of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-schmitt/the-concept-of-humanity-is-an-especially-useful-ideological/) [Carl Schmitt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-schmitt/) > [I think that at a certain age, say fifteen or sixteen, poetry is like masturbation. But later in life good poets burn their early…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/umberto-eco/i-think-that-at-a-certain-age-say-fifteen-or-sixteen-poetry-is-like/) [Umberto Eco](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/umberto-eco/) > [If a person does not listen to the demands of their own spiritual and heart life and insists on a certain program, you're going…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-campbell/if-a-person-does-not-listen-to-the-demands-of-their-own-spiritual-and/) [Joseph Campbell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-campbell/) Browse all 13,673 Certain quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's going on?' I found there was a great distortion of contemporary life. Photographers were interested only in certain things. A visually interesting place, people who were either very rich or very poor, and nostalgia.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Martin Parr" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-were-doing-and-asked-myself/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certain" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-were-doing-and-asked-myself/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/72e/martin-parr-4726_certain_i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-we_42293.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I looked around at what my colleagues were doing, and asked myself, 'What relationship has it with what's…” — Martin Parr", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Martin Parr", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-parr/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "I looked around at what my...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-were-doing-and-asked-myself/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-parr/i-looked-around-at-what-my-colleagues-were-doing-and-asked-myself/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```