Street Photography and Social Media - Publish and Be Damned? | Martin Bond | TEDxCambridgeUniversity

Street photography is one way to focus on our humanity - but it's not the camera lens that matters: it's the act of paying attention.
Martin Bond is a professional photographer and the man behind 'A Cambridge Diary', an eight year series of daily photographs dedicated to recording the everyday lives of Cambridge people. Martin’s images have featured frequently as the front cover of Cambridge Magazine, at the Cambridge Literary Festival, in Cambridge University publications and even BBC’s ‘Have I got News For You'.
This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at www.ted.com/tedx

[@jmbara2]

KZbin placed your talk on its suggested queue - and I am glad it did as I enjoyed seeing it. Thanks for sharing! From a fellow street photographer that gets energized by looking for, capturing, and sharing moments worth saving.

[@marc-antoineberner2241]

Merci Martin d'avoir ainsi partagé ton expérience en tant que photographe de rue et de l'utilisation des médias sociaux. Tes réflexions et ton positionnement sont précieux et stimulants pour ma propre expérience. J'aime photographier la vie ordinaire de la rue et j'essaie de la pratiquer aussi souvent que possible depuis plusieurs années. Thank you, Martin, for having shared your experience as a street photographer and user of social medias. Your point of view and your statement are precious and helpful for my own experience and practise. I love street photography and try to practise as often as possible for several years.

[@georgerogers5954]

Martin; thank you for such an informative talk in such an empathetic and humane way. Your pictures are fantastic and the one with the gardener talking to the little girl actually brought tears to my eyes and not in a sad way. I've been taking pictures continuously for the last fifty four years but my love of photography is still looking at other peoples work rather than my own and now I have another photographer to follow which I am greatly looking forward to. Please never stop what you're doing!

[@nikolaigrigoriev5343]

The best TEDx talk ever. Thank you, Mr. Bond, and please continue with your unique and amazing project! I am sure Cambridge will never run out of beautiful views and special people...

[@CambridgeCookie]

A thought-provoking and emotive talk touching with prescience, on the public health risk of social isolation. Top marks Martin 👏

[@lunarealta1386]

Such emotional shots. All stages of life being covered. Capturing moments. Fabulous photographs🙂

[@bhamneurad1]

Fantastic talk. Came here in response to your response to my inquiry on Facebook. Thank you. This meant a lot to me.

[@trev8591]

Wonderful to hear the voice behind the pictures, Martin. Fantastic talk, really enjoyed your insight.

[@jenmorgan969]

Finally got around to seeing this. Love seeing Martin's photos on Twitter, and they make me see Cambridge in all sorts of new and different ways. What a great talk!

[@andywilk38]

Thank you, Martin - for sharing your photographs, experience and considered thoughts, which are most helpful. Haha! my early teachers were always telling me to 'pay attention'...in truth, now I've heard your TEDx, I think I was paying attention - close attention - but just with a fascination and wonder to everything that I saw around me!

[@goodguysuk]

A sign of natural intelligence Andrew

[@johnbald9639]

Thank you, Martin, for such a thoughtful and ultimately moving talk. Thank you also for restoring my faith in the genre called Street Photography.

[@goodguysuk]

Thank you for taking the time to watch it John

[@vgfjr505]

This was a great talk on a topic that interest me. I’ve always liked street photography because it shows us as we are in our daily life. However, not everyone really understands what this photography genre is about, and I am sure that there are a few that have less than ethical motives. Overall, though, I find that street photographers are genuine people that just love to capture the human nature in all of us; they have a deep curiosity and find beauty in what the rest of us think are just mundane human activities. Bravo, I learned something new about Cambridge. Someday I hope to visit this city; and yes I too am fascinated by the history of the university.

[@cyrilstheone]

Wow just came across this video again. Thought it was something i missed. But love the way you explain simply, why we love to do what when shooting streets.

[@deliaiglesias8295]

Great talk! As great as the photos I can see every day on A Cambridge Diary. Thank you!

[@AndySnap]

This is a great talk, and in the context of lockdown UK, 2 years on from the talk date, becomes more meaningful.

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks

[@JohnChubbSr]

Excellent video of a wise man sharing his thoughts on Street Photography.

[@victoriawen1028]

I really appreciate your insight and the conclusion quoted from the writer - honouring people’s life ! Thank you!

[@christhorpec]

Superb and touching. Thank you for the observations and words and memories

[@kainovember]

I love this, I was on the edge of tears by the end

[@davidnoels2586]

love your view, good information and insight for my students photography. They are afraid to take and/or publish pictures of everyday life. thank you

[@buckgreen6028]

This was absolutely brilliant.🥰

[@SherriSteele]

Just what I need to hear today. Thank you Martin for reminding us where to focus❤️

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks Sherri

[@helenaganderson9079]

Congratulations, Martin, eloquent talk, interesting and reassuring in a way.

[@goodguysuk]

Thank you Helena :)

[@MikeBrowne]

Wonderful inspiring talk Martin.

[@cyrilstheone]

Totally enjoyed your talk. I myself love and do a lot of street photography and love it.

[@SasAstro]

I enjoyed this, I tend to keep my street photography off Facebook and upload it to Flickr instead, I feel that because I live in a smaller town and more people are likely to recognise themselves and maybe take offence.

[@migueljona2278]

I totally disagree with you concerning the homeless. It may make you feel better about yourself to no include the homeless but consider this. Generally lacking a home is not the underlying cause of homelessness normally the issue has to do with some mental disorder or drugs or the person is a run away, in any case they need to be put in treatment or counselling or some other care depending on the circumstance. By ignoring these people you enable their homeless situation and you become just like a well dress person on their way to work who steps over and around homeless people every day. That homeless person you passed by may very well be someones brother, sister, father or mother, aunt, uncle, When you posted fotos of people who had since past away and then through your post relatives and friends found some comfort in them and it gave you joy. What if, by posting a photo of a homeless person who is maybe a runaway or person suffering from dementia they then through your work become reconnected with family or friends. In other words you could save a life one photo at a time.

[@vinayakohri1293]

Amazing talk, really inspirational

[@goodguysuk]

Thank you!

[@jamesdantascosta9183]

Just awesome! Thanks Martin for sharing your project and your story with us :D

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks James

[@johnbrookes6334]

great shots,what they let me see is your big heart.Ilove your work and your caring attitude.

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks John

[@JLStreetDoc]

Brilliant. Loved this, thank you!

[@paultaylorphotography9499]

Enjoyed that Martin I’ve always loved and practiced street photography I’m conflicted I’m a newspaper photographer so when out and about I wear the company logo and have no issues at all taking photos most of the time after taking a pic I have to get their names for the captions the vast majority of people are more than happy on the other hand on my own time NO company logo I sometimes feel sneaky I’ve got by far my favourite shots on my own time but I still feel uneasy posting them I have a fair few examples on my channel I look back in them with pride because with the passing of time those photos gain importance. Just lately I’ve been shooting street portraits where I see an interesting person and ask for a shot first so far only a couple have turned me down politely I’ve shot them on an old folder so the subjects seem to be keep to see the results I always give them my card and promise to mail them a file of their shot. Again I’m conflicted because this method makes me feel less sneaky but the results are not as genuine as candid shots. Mind games keeping me honest I guess.

[@BulldogCreatrix]

Excellent Martin! A great insight well presented. Love your work!

[@goodguysuk]

Cheers Pete!

[@RyB717]

Beautiful message! Thank you!

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks Ryan

[@romiemiller2485]

I think one reason people object to relevant, insightful street photographs is that they touch something in the viewer that scares them. The photos resonate with their insecurities and are critical of their core values Your photographs, therefore, are a personal threat to them.

[@michaeljennings3042]

Interesting pics interesting talk. Great photo's should also tell the story without words. But yes in your context here of street & social media it is a combination of the 2

[@tonycook1532]

Humanism defined. Thank you Martin.

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks Tony

[@MikeMikeYT]

This concept is so romantic.

[@chaitanyakhurana]

Loved the photos and your talk!

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks for finding it!

[@veroniquehoflack4910]

Excellent !

[@seand67]

AMAZING video and words

[@martinjohnston4274]

Brilliant talk Martin. Food for thought at many levels. In particular... well said at 13:20" !! Hear hear!

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks Martin

[@skp7577]

The difference between the people asleep on the bench and the one you chose to compare it with, is that in the second picture they are awake and facing (aware of?) the camera. The first pair of people are vulnerable in their unconsciousness, the second pair are not. Had you posted a picture of me without my consent, and I became aware of it, I would ask for it to be taken down. The pair in the first picture have only become aware of it today - ten years after you took it. I know one would want it removed, the other is processing this shock.

[@ramboruiz]

That picture of the reverent is remarkable.

[@goodguysuk]

Thanbk you.

[@visamap]

Thank you all very much

[@bigkingnigel]

I have to watch this for a school project

[@goodguysuk]

That's a hardship :)

[@natalieward283]

Fab talk Martin! Really enjoyed it! Thanks very much :)

[@goodguysuk]

Thanks for taking the trouble Nathalie :)

[@sagordev4879]

This is underrated

[@samrotolo7303]

unexpectedly good

[@yungteach]

No wonder Martin was surprised at backlash when he missed the inherent creepiness in the comment "Having found a way to continue photographing children...".

[@hanifmashut573]

Bond, Martin Bond

[@VE5MC]

"One cannot capture life when it's being posed for" Street Photographer Joshua Rosenthal.

[@jamespercival8070]

All 3 of your favourite pictures feature smiles and laughter......I’m sure that’s no accident 😁

[@clairegriffiths6357]

awesome talk

[@goodguysuk]

Thank you Claire

[@Satya-chowdhury]

The best

[@goodguysuk]

Thank you!

[@bolan5566]

Photos are OK, but why holding a Q(with 28mm lens) for the whole presentation, but apparently most of the pictures were shot with long lens.

[@DrRonArt]

Pay attention more... indeed!

[@DominicRulikowski]

She said "He ain't homeless, He's my husband"

[@beckymerry2209]

The greatest pictures are taken when the subject is not posing for the camera .

[@rockywaters9592]

Why is he holding a camera? I mean I could understand if he goes on to use it for some part of the presentation, but it serves no purpose other than maybe his self validation. If Lewis Hamilton did a talk, you wouldn't expect him to come out wearing a helmet just to let everyone know he's a racing driver would you? he doesn't have to be holding a camera the entire time to make me believe he's a photographer.....or maybe he wants to show off his Leica.🤷🏼‍♂️

[@valdiskrebs566]

Red dot in hand, and red dot under foot...

[@goodguysuk]

Ha!

[@roopamasalavada7032]

No knowledge

[@ericdelaney7808]

the last words the camera doesnt important ( with a super leica in hand ) come on .... dude

[@cieumeo]

Photographers usually talk like that to new photographers. So they will embrace their tools. In the other hand, photographers have a gut to favor one brand than the other by some reasons. Not many photographers actually don't care about the camera they use, like Daido Moriyama.

[@MikeBrowne]

The only important thing about a camera is that the person using it understands it and has become one with it. All cameras capture light onto a sensor brilliantly so the brand used is un-important, knowing how to use it effectively is vital.

[@Bobby_sprinkles]

I think if you're focusing on him holding a camera then you're missing the whole point of the talk

[@springrollwang4441]

@@Bobby_sprinkles Kids get distracted by toys easily.

[@franciscokloganb]

"Hey guys look, I have a Leica"

[@springrollwang4441]

"He's not homeless, he's my husband.", with such a great presentation, all you can say is Leica.