Harry's Photography Thoughts

Dear Reader,

This is my very first Blog post! How exciting indeed! It is very fitting that it takes place in my deepest roots, the streets of Cambridge…

I try to carry a camera as often as possible, knowing fully well that it adds extra weight to my bag and there is a 50:50 chance that I will not be using it. This afternoon, 13th July 2026 at c.16:00, exemplifies why I carry out this rather cumbersome ritual as part of my daily life. The light today was simply unbelievable. The incredible contrasts between the highlights and shadows on the limestone, redbrick and whitewash of Trinity Street were absurdly beautiful today. What was a rather ordinary walk between buses for me was made absolutely spellbinding as a result. The weather was erratic too; in a typically British manner, the clouds frequently obscured the sun, thus those moments of golden glow I have captured this afternoon are fleeting, precious wonders. Let us begin at the start of my walk, the famous Round Church…

On the bench I was sitting on by the round church while setting up, I noticed these bees busy pollinating beautiful purple flowers…

Nearby, a delightfully elaborate spiderweb glistened in the sunlight whilst John’s Chapel loomed quietly in the background.

I began the walk up Trinity Lane that I have treaded thousands of times, as always noticing the majestic grandeur of John’s Chapel, which’s spire dominates the skyline.

Next to the chapel, my eye was drawn to the crisped remains of alliums blowing gently with the breeze.

To their right, limestone ghosts of Cambridge stand in their eternal formation.

They stand as proudly on the opposite side of the street, too, in their pulpits forever carved into the Old Divinity School.

On one side of the Trinity Chapel, Japanese Cherry Trees that were fluffy whispers of white in the Spring were now glowing in a rich, verdant green.

On the other side, the ‘Newton Tree’ was gleaming with pure sunlight (or was it camera flashes from one hundred tourists…?)

I did not photograph Trinity College. There was a mass of people in front doing the exact same thing with their iphones and, curiously among some rather eclectic tourists, Fujifilm X-series cameras. Like myself, this angel was watching on this scene. Unlike myself, it must watch forever. How must that feel?

The light above on the entrance to Whewell’s Court, Trinity, interested me too.

In addition, this small stone marker on the entrance.

Further down Trinity street, I discovered this glorious flower display above a shop just by the turn down Green Street.

Turning back to face the view behind me seemed to be akin to seeing an old friend in a new light.

As mentioned in my introduction, the contrasts in light and shadow were absolutely fascinating me.

In some spots, they were almost otherworldly.

In others, geometric marvels.

In others, again, Romantic embellishment.

Soon, I was at the end of Trinity Street. The sea of commotion that is King’s Parade was standing before me, as if the street I had just passed were not busy enough…

In this rather architectural mood I had found myself in, I took a moment to appreciate Market Street.

I also took a brief moment to say hello to the founders of my college.

‘Ah, good old Caius in the sunshine,’ I said to myself, ‘this shall be my last shot of the day… time to get home.’

And with that completes my little photowalk of the day, from the Round Church to Great St Mary’s. Not only did glorious, golden sunshine serve as inspiration for this series of photos, but my camera itself. Earlier in the day, I had also thought to myself, ‘I haven’t photographed Cambridge yet with my signature digital setup yet!’ Therefore I decided that today would be the ‘road test’.

I will do a blog post about that soon. To summarise though, it is using my Canon 7D mkii with my vintage M42 lenses, specifically my beloved ‘forever lens’ (as I like to call it), my Yashica Yashinon 50mm f1.7 lens.