CULTURE EDITION
PHOTOGRAPHY A PICTURE OF CAMBRIDGE Martin Bond is the creative genius behind 13-year project A Cambridge Diary. As he releases his second coffee-table tome Cambridge Time & Space, and his 2025 city calendar, we catch up with this prolific photographer M artin Bond’s stylised street photography has won him fans all over the globe. His 13-year Interview LIZ POTTER Images MARTIN BOND
project A Cambridge Diary has generated an impressive archive of 5,000 images – a compelling social document that he’s been sharing in a trio of self-published coffee- table books. The second of these, Time & Space , is now available online and in selected stores. “I’ve lived in Cambridge most of my life,” he says. “I tried living in London for ten years but I just kept coming back at weekends and couldn’t commit to it...” Martin says he became a professional photographer by accident, 15 years ago. “I was a freelance graphic designer, and one of my clients used to organise high-profile corporate events. On one occasion, the photographer cancelled last minute, so I stepped in with my old Canon EOS 450D, which was in the boot of my car.” Martin began his diary project as a personal challenge at around the same time. “I wanted to practise my street photography, so started taking a picture of Cambridge every day for 365 days,” he remembers. “I enjoyed it so much that I just carried on, with the intention of stopping after ten years. But then Covid-19 happened and I thought: a) I’m going to have more time to take pictures and b) perhaps I should be recording all of this? So I just kept going.” A Cambridge Diary documents the everyday lives of people in the city, with the first seven years (2010-2017) already published as a limited-edition hardback:
Town & Gown . “My early pictures focused very much on people, but that became increasingly problematic as my following grew. Although most people saw being photographed by me as a fun thing, even a badge of honour, there were still some exceptions. So, I began to take shots where the people were less identifiable. I also found my customers actually preferred it when I used people as an element of composition and were more willing to hang them as prints on their wall.” The second book, Time & Space (2018-2020), covers the Covid-19 years. “I have to say, I do miss lockdown,” says Martin. “Apart from the initial fear and bewilderment, I enjoyed that spring. I remember photographing peregrine falcons nesting on the Pitt Building and being able to get some great photos because I could hear them approach. I got great shots of the empty streets too.” Martin’s third book, All & Sundr y, is due out next year, but he’s currently taking a break from the daily photos. “I miss it like mad, but have no regrets,” he says. “I was ready to stop because it was becoming more difficult to find a shot every day that I was happy with. I’ve been becoming less enamoured with Cambridge because of the aesthetic deterioration. For example, we now have these bright yellow wheelie bins stuck out on the pavements and a river contaminated with debris.” Martin is reluctant to accept that his photos are important social documents. “It’s just one person’s observations, for what they’re worth. Even so, I’d like to think that, in 50 years’ time – after I’ve gone – people will find those pictures of value. Street photography often tends to be very anonymous, but mine are very much tied to an identifiable place and time.” Cambridge: Time & Space is available online from cambridgebooks.co.uk TRUE COLOURS Martin’s photo books showing off city street life (above) and a portrait of the man himself (bottom left)
24 DECEMBER 2024 CAMBSEDITION.CO.UK
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