allegedly misrepresenting itself as having their support.

While careful to point out many of their members have their own books on the way, the Bermuda Photographic Association has blasted the Moods of Man's projected book, "Moods of Bermuda''.

In a press release this week, the Association blasted the book for not containing any of the Island's best photographers' work. The photographers have not participated due to "very poor financial support'' and "questionable business practices'' by Moods of Man.

And the Association also alleged that the Moods of Man sales team did much of their work before gaining work permits and represented the book as having the Association's support.

But the book's publisher, George Colesworthy, last night defended himself, saying he did not understand the Association's complaint and said they had ample opportunity to compete for a spot.

Mr. Colesworthy said the professional photographers had been approached but had declined to be a part of the contest.

"They later tried to contact me but quite frankly I did not respond because I did not want to get in a verbal shouting match,'' he said.

But the Association said: "The local book market is small and the Moods group through their greed has the potential to damage several local projects which are near completion.'' It also noted that if Moods does eventually produce a book, it will not reflect the "true depth of Bermudian photographic talent and will not contain a single picture from a Bermuda Photographic Association member''.

"The full membership of the Association wishes to notify the public that it is not in any way part of the Moods of Bermuda Photographic book Project,'' the Association added.

Members also claimed that the Association has made three attempts to contact Moods of Man through its local representative Island Press to "resolve issues'' to no avail.

Association member Graeme Outerbridge said anyone buying the book when it hits the shelves would get a "diluted'' product, without any input from the top locals.

"A lot of our guys take a big risk to publish and self-publish,'' he said.

"This represents a lot of losses for the small Bermuda market. It's very important for the consumer to know it doesn't have input from us.'' And he added Moods of Man only applied for a salesperson in July after the Association began to complain.

"Amateurs have also been asked to do it for free,'' Mr. Outerbridge said.

"How can you compete against that? If you can't have dialogue and you're attempting to have it with them, where does that leave us? "We are upset and are not involved in it. The compensation package probably couldn't cover film and equipment. And we haven't got a response from them. We even called to the Isle of Man.'' But Mr. Colesworthy struck back saying he had a work permit to sell the book as far back as April "well before I ever began to sell this product''.

"I've been visiting Bermuda for years and I know the rules and I wouldn't break them,'' he said from his office in Connecticut. "Our approach is very simple. We run a photo contest and we did nothing that could be construed as underhanded. I've been in business 30 years and I resent that.

"We're not trying to deceive anybody. I don't know where that comes from, especially where they say we're greedy. This is open competition and if we have mostly amateurs, their photos reflect the moods of the beautiful Island of Bermuda.'' Mr. Colesworthy said the company was using Bermudian photographers, writers, and printers for the book and was not "taking revenue from Bermuda''.

"It's costing us more to do it this way,'' he added. "How many other books by the Island's photographers are printed overseas.

"Premier Jennifer Smith and Tourism Minister David Allen both contributed to the foreword of the book. This is as Bermudian as it gets.'' PHO