Gucci commissioned Martin Parr to capture the House’s timepieces around the world. Parr visited nine Gucci Places, and documented the watches on the wrists of locals, tourists and passersby. Martin’s photography captures moments that might otherwise be overlooked.

INTERVIEW WITH NUMÉRO

Which of the Gucci Places (favourite places of the house where you shot the visuals) most piqued your curiosity? 

The Castello Sonnino, near Florence, a home that’s belonged to the same family for generations. The owners were the most amazing characters bursting with energy, it was a joy to photograph them.

How do you create an image? Do you carefully craft every aspect of the photograph or are you happy to seize the moment?

I never put anything in place beforehand, I’m a naturally curious person who uses photography as a means to capture the world as I see it at that instant.

What do you think the success of Instagram says about our society? And more generally the fact that anyone can take a photo anywhere and at any time?

I remain fascinated by our need to photograph everything we do, see and taste. The photographic recording and this irrepressible desire to share it has practically destroyed the experience itself. Tourism is the most obvious example.

How do you know if a photo is good? How do you choose a particular photo from the same series, and what makes for good Instagram photos?

You have to take quite a few pictures before getting the right one. I edit the images quickly after taking them and I look for visuals that best describe what I both saw and felt.