Canton & Pontcanna

By Mark Hawkins, The History Press, £18, 128 pages, hardback, ISBN 978-0750988148

Don’t be put off by the location specifics of this book. If you like urban and street photography, Canton & Pontcanna is still worthy of your attention.

For those not in the know, Canton and Pontcanna are two adjoining suburbs of Cardiff in South Wales. They are characterised by leafy avenues, artisan eateries and eclectic inhabitants (a fact I can very much vouch for – I am one).

The impromptu street photographs are split into five distinct chapters: Streets, Culture, Faith, Moments and Parks. It’s a quirky look at a vibrant area of a city that should resonate with many, and out of context could be almost any British city. Although intentional, the lack of detailed information in the captions is a little frustrating at times, especially to anyone unfamiliar with the area. Still, it’s a beautifully designed book with plenty of appeal.

★★★ ★★ Amy Davies