New Book

My latest book "Portrait of a People - the Tiwi of northern Australia" should reach the bookshops in mid 2008. Four years in the making, it was truly a labour of love.

about this book

Title: Portrait of a People - the Tiwi of northern Australia
Photography: Heide Smith
Text: Brian Smith
ISBN: 978-0-646-48781-6
Size: 255mm x 300mm
Pages: 224
Images: Over 270 photographs plus over 200 thumbnails
Price: $75
Postage: Free within Australia - Outside Australia POA

Portrait of a People is first and foremost a book of photographs taken by Heide of the Tiwi and of Tiwi life over a twenty year period, but it is more than just a picture book, in that it also relates the history, and describes the lifestyle, culture and art of the Tiwi. Like most indigenous people, the Tiwi are struggling to adapt to the modern world whilst still retaining their own identity and culture. The period covered by this book has been especially traumatic.

From her first visit to the islands, Heide developed a unique relationship with the Tiwi, largely through her close friendship with an older, highly respected Tiwi woman; she is now regarded as "Gerardine's sister". Heide maintained a diary of her experiences with the Tiwi, and some of the stories of her adventures have been included.

** See a high quality extract from the book [PDF file - 1.1MB]

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