THIS was the first holiday I've taken where my choice of breakfast was determined by the photogenic quality of the food.

But then a trip with photographer Martin Parr was always going to be surreal - one where the pedestrian details of life turn into memorable visual events.

I was on the School of Life's holiday to the Isle of Wight with Parr to learn a few tricks of the trade from the master of social commentary. It was billed as a holiday, but I wondered whether it would be more like a course.

The answer, fortunately, was no. There were no tutorials, just a group of like-minded people getting together with one of the most important photographers in postwar Britain to talk and take pictures. It felt relaxed, rather than intimidating.

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• Holiday life on the Isle of Wight

We stayed in an eccentric hotel called the Northbank, in Seaview: faded, unsophisticated, unmistakeably English - classic Parr country. It had a “television room”, and the highlight of my holiday was when Parr allowed me to shoot a portrait of him there.

I asked him how he remained inconspicuous enough to take some quite confrontational photographs, such as the Last Resort.

“Behave as if you've every right to be there and be aware of people's body language. That will tell you how they feel about being photographed,” he said.

The weekend involved visits to take pictures at Whale Chine and the beaches at Sandown and Ventnor, with bathers and ice-creams, Brighstone Holiday Centre - unchanged since 1932, and an agricultural show in Ryde.

Our final day involved a slide show of six pictures that we had taken to show to the rest of the group.

It was an exhilarating trip. I learnt some valuable lessons regarding camera technology (Parr's overriding message is “simplify it”), and the importance of looking at the story behind your photograph.

More importantly, perhaps, I returned home looking at the world in a new, questioning way. It's almost like being given a new pair of eyes. Not many holidays can claim that.

View more of Sue's photos at www.suefoll.co.uk

The Northbank Hotel, Seaview, Isle of Wight (01983 612227, www.northbankhotel.co.uk) offers rooms with breakfast from £40pp pn.

MARTIN PARR'S PHOTOGRAPHY TIPS

Always behave like you have every right to be there.

Simplify your technology and let the camera do the work — this lets you concentrate on picture making.

Be aware of people’s body language. If it seems agressive, move away.

Don’t be afraid of increasing your ISO to expose correctly for ambient light. Then fill in with the flash.

Crop using your camera — that’s what it’s for.

Martin Parr (www.martinparr.com)

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