"The instinct is to capture people only when they are smiling around a birthday cake or at a wedding, but never during an argument or funeral," advises British photography legend Martin Parr in a 2010 piece on how to take family portraits for The Guardian. "On holiday, of course photograph the daytrips and good times, but make sure you document when everything isn't going to plan as well."
Parr has relied on this documentary impulse in his work over the decades. His over-saturated images of suburban life in England cast an ambivalent portrait of his fellow countrymen -- both beautiful and grotesque.
In a newest exhibit and upcoming book from the Aperture Foundation, "Life's A Beach," Parr's photos of sunbathers from all across the globe maintain a balance between raw honesty and saturated colors. Exposed and unmasked, the bare bodies offer portraits of vacationers caught in private moments under the same sun.
"Life's A Beach" will be released on April 30, and the exhibit runs May 2 to July 3 in New York. In conjunction with the book release, Parr will be holding a beach-themed photo shoot at the Aperture Foundation on May 18, so get ready for your 15 minutes of fame if you're in Chelsea.
Scroll through the slideshow below to see how beach-goers spend their holidays in countries all over the world. Let us know what you think of Parr's summer shots in the comments.
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