Marti Friedlander, one of New Zealand's most celebrated photographers, has been observing our lives for more than five decades. From kuia with moko to street demonstrations, from Rita Angus to Norman Kirk, her photogrpahs provide insights into the social and cultural shifts in post-war New Zealand. Since the 1960s her images have shaped how people, places and events have been seen, understood and remembered, 'revealing', as she says, 'moments in New Zealand history and society on the cusp of decisive change'.

In a world awash with throwaway images, Marti Friedlander's photographs are intense and introspective. As images in this book testify, her commitment to sustained, inquiring and attentive looking by both phtoographer and viewer affirms the enduring value of the still photograph as a site of thought and feeling.