Annalize Mouton, co-editor of Village Life with husband Maré, took over

60 000 photographs in a period of six months for the book. She also did the research and wrote the text in that period.

Annalize Mouton started photographing people in the village of Stanford, South Africa (pop. 7000) on 12 June 2007 with the idea of exhibiting "a few" portraits during the village's 150th anniversary in September/October of that year. This turned into a larger project, with a large-format book with over 500 portraits launched on 9 February 2008, attended by over 700 people from all walks of life. On 5 October 2007 almost 400 people attended the opening of an exhibition of 56 images.

Limited-edition prints of the photographs (inkjet on archival Hahnemühle photo rag paper) may be ordered from Annalize. A collection of these prints has been exhibited in Holland, Germany and Italy, apart from Stanford and Bellville in South Africa.

The book comprises 240 page of 280 x 280 mm, with a hard cover and laminated dust jacket. To order the book (R560 inclusive to SA address), contact Annalize.

You may read more about the project at http://portraitofavillage.wordpress.com

Here are some spreads from the book (much reduced in size). Chapters include the history, farms, the founding of the village, forced removals under apartheid, the built environment, nature and the diverse people of the village