Since 1996 The High Museum of Atlanta has commissioned a total of nine photographers to make a portrait of the region. 
Until next September the exhibition Picturing the south presents works by three different contemporary artists: Martin Parr, Kael Alford and Shane Lavalette. They are invited to present their views of the American South: Martin Parr focuses on the urban setting of Atlanta, Kael Alford explores small communities in marshlands of Louisiana and Shane Lavalette chooses the relationship between traditional Southern music and the contemporary landscape.

In the book Up And Down Peachtree, published by Contrasto, it’s possible to discover the complete work of Martin Parr in Atlanta.

Atlanta is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia and has long been known as a center of black wealth, political power and culture, a cradle of the Civil Rights Movement and home to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It’s also a symbolic capital of the American South made famous by the film Gone With the Wind and by the world headquarters of The Coca-Cola Company. 
Peachtree Street is the main road around which the city was born and grew and where Martin Parr, always with a touch of irony, makes a portrait of the daily life in Atlanta. He visits institutions and major events in the city such as the Atlanta Pride Festival, the CNN Center, the annual Dogwood Festival, Atlanta’s zoo, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.. 
With people, food, details, colors, forms he make us laugh and despair at the same time. 
His journey is guided by humor and instinct, Martin Parr's energy and vision burn through Atlanta like a modern day William Hogarth.

When Martin Parr focuses on Atlanta, documentary filmmaker Neal Broffman turns his lens on Parr. 
The result is Hot Spots: Martin Parr in the American South, a thirty minutes documentary. 
It begins at the Cactus Car Wash on Ponce de Leon Avenue in a frantic rush of wash, dry, polish and chrome brightness. Martin Parr is out of the car, the camera flashes away. He strikes up a conversation with one of the washers about customer's tipping . So begins his first day in Atlanta.. 
The film features interviews with Susan Meiselas, Philip Gefter, Julian Cox and Brett Abbot. Hot Spots shows us Martin Parr at his best.

Hot Spots: Martin Parr in the American South is produced by One Production Place in collaboration with Contrasto and Fall Line Press. The film is distributed by F-Stop Films.

Watch the trailer of the film: http://vimeo.com/32633652
The film will premiere on June 14th at The Woodruff Arts Center.