Cambridge photographer who took a picture of his beloved home city every day for 13 years reveals his favourites – from ordinary everyday scenes to spectacular college balls

• Martin Bond has amassed almost 5,000 photograhs of the university city 

A street photographer who has taken a picture in his home city of Cambridge every day for 13 years has collated his favourites into a book containing everything from ordinary dogwalkers to spectacular college balls.

Martin Bond, who began his daily practice in March 2010, has now amassed an archive of almost 5000 pictures taken on the streets of the world-renowned university city.

Mr Bond, who was born in Cambridge and has lived in the city all his life, became interested in street photography when he was trying out a new lens and took a casual shot of a decorator just after he has spilt his paint on the pavement.

He decided to make it his mission to document the everyday moments in the lives of ordinary people in Cambridge by posting a picture a day on social media.

His project, A Cambridge Diary, was initially set to run for 365 days, but he enjoyed it so much and gained such a large following, that he has now been doing it for more than a decade.

Martin Bond, who began his daily practice in March 2010, has now amassed an archive of almost 5000 pictures

Mr Bond was born in Cambridge and has lived in the city his whole life

One of Bond’s photos shows a man jogging past a young cow – the animals have ancient grazing rights in the city

Martin has now put his favourite images from each day of the year in a new book, Cambridge Town & Gown

Mr Bond takes photographs of student life including the annual May Balls

Gardeners attend plants on the outside of Magdalene College, Cambridge

Mr Bond has now put his favourite images from each day of the year in a new book, Cambridge Town & Gown, A Portrait Picture of Every Day, and already sold copies all over the world, including Japan, New Zealand and Australia.

They include shots of extravagant balls, people punting on the river Cam, major events such as bike races and shots of the famous university colleges.

There are also photos of everyday life in the city and ones which show the area’s close relationship with nature. 

He said: ‘I began looking for things that might just as easily be overlooked but when noticed and photographed, would say something about a person or a place that I thought was worth recording.

‘There was so little recording of these everyday moments in the lives of ordinary people in Cambridge, perhaps because there has always been so much else to be admired and photographed in this beautiful city.

‘I decided to take more pictures of ordinary people and share them on Facebook – not just occasionally but every day, to provide at least some record of their lives and the passing of time.

‘I observed their behaviour, their posture and their expressions as I looked for a fleeting moment that might reveal something of their character.

‘The book brings together photos of the city of Cambridge and the university and how they bubble along together.’

The photographer now has a huge following on social media, with people from all over the globe logging on each day to see his latest photo.

Porters at Trinity College Cambridge shelter from the rain in July 2017

A student at Sidney Sussex College fixes greenery in her hair in June 2013

The photographer takes pictures of ‘everyday moments’ he says no-one else captures

Porters gather outside the main entrance to Trinity College, Cambridge

An umbrella floats outside Magdalene College on the River Cam in July 2017

Actor James Norton films Grantchester in Cambridge in September 2015

Members of the St John’s Chapel Choir, photographed by Martin Bond

Martin’s style of street photography means his subjects can be easily identified and he admits he has had concerns over the years about people being annoyed

Mr Bond said the majority of his subjects are very happy to see his photos

Martin now has a huge following on social media, with people from all over the globe logging on each day to see his latest photo

Picture dated Sept 2013 shows punters under umbrellas on a wet day on the River Cam

He even photographed a couple on their wedding day as they cycled through the centre of the city

Mr Bond said: ‘The photos seem to attract interest from people all over the world’

‘The book brings together photos of the city of Cambridge and the university and how they bubble along together’

This photo taken in December showed rowers dressed up in festive clothes

A young man adjusts to the New Year by the River Cam, Cambridge

Punters on the River Cam in September 2016

Geese pictured on a foggy morning underneath the Bridge of Sighs at St John’s College

A woman walks down the street in a blue ball gown in June 2012

People are pictured inside the Castle Inn Pub in Cambridge

Picture dated April 2014 shows a jogger in the early morning by Trinity College

A man  punts a Christmas tree and presents along the Rover Cam

Hoardes of cyclists make their way down King’s Parade in July 2014

People pose for photos in the centre of the city in June 2013

Mr Bond has now compiled his favourite photos into a book – with one picture for every day of the year

He said: ‘Some people spot themselves in my photos and others see their friends and tell them about it. The photos seem to attract interest from people all over the world.

‘My Facebook audience is very engaged and no matter what I post someone will have a connection with it, which is lovely to see.

‘I think it’s the wonder of Cambridge in that so many people pass through it and long for the connection after they have left.

‘The city is renowned for its iconic buildings and famous university but I thought the town side and its people were often ignored and weren’t being recorded with the same level of interest and I wanted to change this.’

Martin’s style of street photography means his subjects can be easily identified and he admits he has had concerns over the years about people being annoyed that they have been photographed.

But he said very few had come forward to complain and in fact the majority are overjoyed that he has captured them in a special moment.

He has plans for two more books in the works: one about the city during lockdown and another made up of his most popular prints.

Cambridge Town & Gown costs £65 and can be ordered from www.cambridgebooks.co.uk. 

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