NOSEY PARKER
NOSEY PARKER Hannah Platt
FOREWORD RRB has built a reputation for producing books of older photographers whose work has been either forgotten or overlooked. This has proven to be a great formula for the likes of Peter Mitchell and John Myers, and their work is now more widely appreciated because of these books. How refreshing then to see this new platform, literally called Platform and the first publication “Nosey Parker’ by Hannah Platt. It will be a series of books looking at emerging talent and a welcome addition to the British documentary tradition. Hannah’s last small self-published book was titled “Out of Order’ and had a sticker saying ‘Just For Fun’ and this sets the tone for this extended collection of images taken mainly in Leeds. You can sense the mischief in her images, an ice cream van seemingly toppling into the sea, a closed-down school uniform shop and a collection of balloons perilously balanced on a wire. It’s those brief glances that she has captured and owned that have become part of her connection to the city. There is also a more sober take from Hannah, who has delighted in some of the shops and buildings in Leeds, reminiscent of some of Peter Mitchell’s work, but you can see they were taken with a young and enthused eye. Photography is about ensuring the connection to the subject matter is clear and concise and yet still holds the ambiguity that all good work contains. In this series, you can share the excitement of Hannah’s discoveries. You can sense her striding the city looking for the quirks that she can own by photographing them. When it is all put together in this book, we can learn as much about Hannah as we can about the city of Leeds. I am looking forward to seeing the Platform series growing and giving voice to our young and exciting new talents. MARTIN PARR
7
9
10
11
13
15
16
17
19
20
21
23
25
26
27
29
31
32
33
34
35
37
39
40
41
43
44
45
47
49
51
53
54
55
57
58
59
61
62
63
65
66
A note from me, I hope this book brought a smile; if it didn’t - did you not see the chickens crossing the road? A lot of the time, if not all, I’ll take a photo because there was something special that caught my eye. Nosey Parker is full of those glowing moments; which I have Yorkshire to thank for, it makes for a very charming playground. I’d also like to thank the supportive team at RRB Photobooks for making this project happen - Josie especially, it’s been an absolute dream to pour my all into this, so thank you for believing in me. Thank you to Martin Parr for his foreword, which means the world. Let’s not forget my iPhone for always fitting in my pocket; this project would be nothing without it. Finally, to all my special friends who have ever stopped and waited for me to take a photo, this one’s for you. Stay nosey & keep smiling, Hannah Platt Leeds, UK