Cambridge Edition January 2024 - Web

LOCAL LIFE

FLEETING FRAMES Martin paints a whimsical picture, transforming the mundane into wonder and escapism

physical to show for it. There’s a saying that goes, ‘a photograph doesn’t count until it’s printed’, and I agree with it.” A SHIFTING CITY Cambridge born and bred, a ‘town boy’ born in the maternity hospital that once existed on Mill Road, Martin witnessed first-hand the rapid pace of change that has swept through the city in recent decades. Having known Cambridge in a bygone era, prior to the arrival of endless traffic, relentless congestion and orange- hued clouds of light pollution, the city’s transformation is not an entirely positive one. “Since I began taking these pictures, Cambridge’s population has grown from 120,000 people to just over 150,000, and that’s just within the confines of the city,” he observes. “We also get upwards of seven million tourists a year. An obvious question is: where do all those people go?” In the face of massive developments sprouting on the fringes of the city, the

in the everyday to so many – to a close. There was still some steam left. “Over the course of the project, I’ve developed a purpose of trying to look at ordinary things, but find something in that scene which is almost otherworldly. People provide these moments every day, and we miss them all the time.” Now, Martin has settled on a new ending – picture number 5,000. “It’s been a difficult decision to make, but it’s time to release myself from this self-inflicted discipline!” he shares. The virtual diary may be coming to a close, but a fresh venture begins with the publication of a series of photo books – thick, hardback coffee table tomes which are a visual celebration of the finest images from Martin’s record of Cambridge. The first, Cambridge – Town & Gown , contains 365 images from the first seven years, and a further two will follow. “All that work will eventually disappear into the ether. I wanted to have something

scenic historic centre grows ever more exclusive. The colleges where a young Martin could once wander freely, passing through as shortcuts, are now either closed for a fee or blocked to the public entirely. “It’s sad because so many of us have grown up in this city, yet we are excluded from its biggest part,” he shares. For Martin, Cambridge today represents an exhausted city, stifled by a suffocating level of congestion caused by exponential growth. Our conversation, and indeed Martin’s project, draw to a close as a poignant reminder that ours is a strained city that needs space to breathe in the face of an uncertain future. “Nevertheless, it doesn’t stop me wanting to see the beauty.”

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