Photographers Amanda Lumry and Loren Wengerd along with the collaboration of author Laura Hurwitz have dispelled this perception in their coffee table book entitled Cayman A Photographic Journey Through The Islands. Scanning through the more than 147-page collection of impressive images we are apprised of a far different view of a landmass that is approximately 1.5 times the size of Washington, D.C.

The photo journey covers a huge range of topics depicting human as well as landscape scenes. You can probably label the collection of images as a view of the other Cayman, distinct from the touristy concept portrayed in travel publications. Real people exist, rather than the models we are so accustomed seeing in various media.

The photos definitely succeed in making us aware of the beauty of Cayman and the necessity to preserve the heritage, culture, wildlife and habitats. When I asked Amanda Lumry what was the primary objective of the book, she informed me, "Cayman, increased tourism and offshore banking provide an ever increasing concern for locals trying to maintain their heritage and way of life. We attempted to shed some light on their concerns through our personal interviews. By reading this book, it is our hope that tourists will realize the precious jewel that Cayman is and respect it."

This ambitious photo journey is filled with sharp, clear and selective images that blend local colour with human interest. This is particularly evident when you look at the picture of Captain Paul Hurlston and read about his personal story. There is a kind of sadness in his face that probably can be attributed to the fact that his wife left him three years ago. However, he still holds onto his love letters he saved dating back to 1959. We are informed "he still clings doggedly to a fragment of hope that she'll come back to him, but a weariness and resignation seems to overshadow his faith in marital reunion." The photo image affectionately captures these characteristics to the extent you almost want to reach out and console this Caymanian.

No doubt after reading his book and savouring the photo images the reader will come away with a greater understanding and appreciation of "things Caymanian."