Manly, Australia (PRWEB) July 8, 2008 -- When you want to capture images of Australia a beach is one of the best places to start. Beaches and coastal communities are an iconic part of the Australian way of life. Photojournalist David Hancock has spent almost 25 years photographing the environment and people near his home in Manly, Australia.

In his new self-published "Manly. 1000 Miles from Care?" author David Hancock boldly claims, "It is one of the most beautifully intact environments in the world this close to a major city. We've got whales, turtles, penguins and a truly amazing diversity of underwater life, and the geography is absolutely stunning."

Hancock's photographic perspective of Manly captures the beauty of the environment and the people, but also encompasses a sense of history. "It is more by accident than design that the environment around Manly has been preserved," he said. "The defense department, the quarantine station and the Catholic church locked up large tracts of land thus preserving them from the worst excesses of 20th century development."

His new 120-page self-published book will be on sale at local outlets and online from July, 2008. Hancock uses Manly as a backdrop to look at a slice of Australian life. "Manly was a kind of 19th century amusement parlour, a place where people came to get away from their mundane lives and a degree of that remains today. You see this influence in how business is done and in the casual way people live here."

He captures the diversity of Manly with more than 150 images from the beach itself to the high cliffs of North Head. "It really is a unique world location. Of course, like the rest of Australia, some locals still suffer from too many "Thou Shalts" but the best just smile in the quiet knowledge that they live at one of the finest addresses on the planet."

Hancock has been a photojournalist for more than 30 years working with national and international media. He has worked with newspapers and magazines in New Zealand and Australia and lists as clients some of Australia's largest corporations.

The launch of "Manly. 1000 Miles from Care?" is at Manly Art Gallery & Museum 6-8 p.m. on Thursday 10th July 2008.

For more information about the launch or to arrange an interview or images for publication phone David Hancock directly on (02) 9949 6839 or 0419 692 155.

###