Book Reviews
pp. 97-99 · Read in the full issue
A Genuine Effort To
Capture The Islands
The beauty of the Islands has been captured perhaps like never before with the publication of two books this month.
Sensitively treated, the Pacific
Islands are among the most photogenic in the world. Small wonder then that A World of Islands offers a galaxy of moving
and exciting pictures of Fiji, the
Gilbert and Ellice Islands and Tonga, for Peter Carmichael has put his soul into his book of
photographs.
Acting as a soothing and informa tive introduction to his pictures, June Knox-Mawer’s text is excellent.
A World Of Islands opens its de luxe pages with Fiji and takes a reader through a journey of photo graphic delight. As the author states, the Islands are a paradise in danger.
Carmichael has tried to capture the astounding beauty of the islands before the modern world takes over completely. His camera dwells fondly on the wicker and straw huts that look so picturesque. The owners would be pleased to move into government built prefabricated con crete houses, but what a sad day for the beauty of the island.
Spirit worship
Events were recorded when the duo were lucky enough to be at the right place at the right moment— and they often were. Featured are an occidental coronation, a kava ceremony of welcome, firewalking ceremonies and the ancient rites of spirit worship.
The Fijian kava (or yagona) ceremony is lushly photographed and there are some hilarious shots of a village fish-catching session in which the women reach into the nets, grab a fish and kill it with their teeth.
Carving is a great part of Fijian life and a number of examples are featured including a man who carves
bowls six feet wide from the trunk of a tree , .
Gilberts are treated separately I*}® E'l |c e Islands and everyday life there is drawn with skill. The only bare breasts in the book are in the Gilberts section—and as the author points out, it s seldom you can see this sight.
Religious life is strong in the Gilberts; in the Ellice Islands, Carmichael’s camera moves into the local houses, where a framed picture of the Queen takes pride of place always. Life is also hard there but the camera shows the people are in harmony with nature and happy.
Tonga is reserved for the last section of the book and offers the sea in all its many aspects on the island.
The beautiful women of Tonga are described well by June Knox-Mawer, who now lives on Fiji, as is its im-
pressive monarch, whose word is law —almost.
A World Of Islands is a beautiful book, especially for those whose mis fortune is to have visited the Pacific Islands and then to be separated from them indefinitely. Photographic albums have been presented before —but this one is well worth a special perusal.
New Guinea would seem to lend itself to photography with its wealth of visual beauty and excitement. And American, James L. Anderson, in his first book has captured the essence of that wild country with a series of beautiful photographs which should impress everyone from the hardened New Guinea expatriate to the first time tourist.
James Anderson aimed to con trast the stone age existence of former cannibals in virtually un explored jungle areas with the
emergence of more civilised natives into the world of the atom. Hence pictures in New Guinea of the primaeval forest alongside a picture of a painted Highlander driving a souped-up motor bike.
Anderson visited the Biam'i area where a patrol he was accompanying, captured a number of natives believed to have been involved in recent in cidents of cannibalism. Text is written with great insight by long time resident of P-NG, Donald Hogg. He covers all aspects of New Guinea from Australia’s involvement to what the future holds for the growing nation.
Burial photos
New Guinea is every bit as good as A World Of Islands. Anderson has climbed up trees to picture the remains of a New Guinea burial and held his camera up to men who have seldom if ever seen a white man. The pic tures are impressive, especially those of the jungle. Sections dealing with the Australian community, the gov ernment and what the future holds, are inevitably a little less exciting.
But for those who want to know more about this strange country New Guinea is the answer.
Wild music
To make the country even more vivid as you read, Anderson has also produced a stereo long-playing record from tapes he managed to taken in New Guinea in between photographs. This Is New Guinea by Hibiscus Records is the sound of the people, from missionary influenced natives of the coast to the wild beating of stone-age natives.
Whether or not you can read and listen at the same time New Guinea is a fine book and well worth a look.
—Jse.
(A World Of Islands; Collins,
London. $12.50.
NEW GUINEA, A. H. and A. W. Reed, (9.95).