IFF Board Member George Martin—not to be confused with the former Beatles producer who composed the score for Live and Let Die—first became aware of James Bond when he heard the Goldfinger theme playing on an AM radio station. Soon after, he saw Goldfinger at the cinema with his parents, followed shortly by the twin bill of Dr. No and From Russia With Love.

After seeing the movies, Martin wanted to explore the literary side of Bond, and began by reading the Signet paperback edition of Thunderball which he chose based on the synopsis on the rear cover. His parents noted his interest in 007, and for his next birthday gifted him the boxed Signet paperback set. Martin immediately arranged the books in chronological order and read them in rapid succession. The initial Thunderball paperback and the boxed Signet set given to him by his parents remain his most prized 007 possessions.

In the years to come, Martin saw all the 007 films starring Sean Connery upon first release, and Martin remains a discriminating fan of Connery’s cinematic Bond and Fleming’s literary 007.

When GoldenEye was released, Martin, combining his love of photography with his enthusiasm for Bond, had the chutzpah to crash the film’s World Premiere at New York’s Radio City Music Hall. Laden with photographic equipment, the security officers let him pass into the event. He subsequently sought press credentials for the U.S. premieres of succeeding Pierce Brosnan 007 films. By being polite and saying “please” and “thank you,” he ingratiated himself to the powers-that-be at MGM Home Entertainment, who provided him with reserved preferential red-carpet positioning, unlike other photographers who were relegated to the press pen. He likewise impressed officials at United International Pictures, and later Fox, to obtain press credentials to the UK premieres during the Brosnan era.

In 2002, when MGM Home Entertainment produced a featurette entitled Premiere Bond: Opening Nights for the Ultimate Edition DVD/Blu-ray of Dr. No, Martin’s photos – totaling 67 – were the only ones shown in the section on the Pierce Brosnan premieres.

Martin is a regular attendee of the “Ian Fleming Foundation work weekends” where volunteers gather to help repair and maintain vehicles in the Ian Fleming Foundation’s collection.