Inside Tracks: Robyn Davidson's Solo Journey Across the Outback

by Rick Smolan

Through stunning images, acclaimed photographer Rick Smolan tells the astounding story of Robyn Davidson, who crossed the desolate Australian outback accompanied only by four camels and a dog. Now, Davidson's exhilarating wilderness adventure is a major motion picture, and this remarkable volume presents both Smolan's original photographs along with those from the movie, TRACKS. As an exciting bonus, the book incorporates Aurasma technology that enables readers to point their smart devices at one of the pictures from the original journey and then watch that scene as it is brought to life in the movie.

Genres: Travel, Nonfiction, Photography, Biography, Australia

224 pages, Hardcover

Published October 21, 2014

Reviews

[Elaine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although as a child I grew up with the book Tracks: A Woman's Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback on our bookshelf, I never really paid much attention to it. Having recently watched the movie, I've been fascinated by Robyn Davidson's journey. This coffee table style book has wonderful photographs and insights into the trip and Robyn's thoughts. Each photograph has a quote from Robyn...of time and place and how she felt. Truly a wonderful story told in photographs. The photography of Rick Smolan is amazing and captures the countryside and Robyn's journey beautifully. The second half of the book is dedicated to the film version and is also very interesting.

[John · Rating 5 out of 5]

Superb Coffee Table Book That Recounts The Original Trek and the Film Based Upon It

It's one of the most lavish coffee table photography books I have seen, and one worthy of ample praise. Even if you're not familiar with Robyn Davidson's epic solo odyssey from Alice Springs to Australia's Indian Ocean coast, you'll be impressed with the stunning images made by a young Rick Smolan as he photographed that journey nearly forty years ago for National Geographic magazine; the pictures that he took which were published - as well as others - are far better than what I recall that were published in it years ago. The book is divided into two sections, with the first part devoted to Davidson's journey and Smolan's photographs; the second covers, in story-board fashion, the John Curran-directed film adaptation of Davidson's memoir "Tracks", with pictures accompanying what appears to be the final shooting script. Savvy internet users who own smartphones and have the Aurasma app (or download it), can point to Smolan's original photographs and see video clips of scenes from the film itself, whose cinematography was greatly influenced by his photography. (I saw Smolan himself demonstrate this feature during a post-screening Q & A of the film, which I saw last week at a private screening associated with this year's Photo Plus Expo here in New York City.)

[Douglas Lord · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a beautiful document of a beautiful woman who trekked across beautiful Australia with four nasty camels and a loyal dog in 1977. Davidson, the trekker, eventually wrote a book about it called Tracks: A Woman’s Solo Trek Across 1700 Miles of Australian Outback which won the Thomas Cook Travel Book Award back in the day. Thirty-five years later there’s a film based on the book (starring Mia Wasikowska, a dead ringer for Davidson). And this title, while it’s a shameless movie tie-in, admirably presents both Smolan’s original photographs along with those from the upcoming movie. Co-author and photographer Smolan (The Human Face of Big Data), who helped create the “Day in the Life” series (e.g., A Day in the life of the Soviet Union), documented Davidson’s journey for National Geographic, meeting her three separate times during the nine-month journey. The draw is Smolan’s images. For more pics, try Smolan’s collection of photos from the trek, From Alice to Ocean VERDICT Incisive photojournalism focusing on the special, internal journey that Davidson took across a fantastic land. And as my colleague and overtweeter Alene Moroni (twitter.com/surlyspice) points out, this also contains excellent how-to advice on selecting a camel. You can’t get that in Consumer’s Reports).
Find reviews of books for men at Books for Dudes, Books for Dudes, the online reader's advisory column for men from Library Journal. Copyright Library Journal.

[Ronni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning photography - both the originals by Rick Smolan and the pictures that were in the film.
A book I will go back to again and again.

[Nav · Rating 2 out of 5]

Some of the photographs were just gorgeous. For the story of her journey you'd be better off starting with the book so you can really feel the journey since this contains a condensed overview of how it went. If you like behind-the-scenes stuff, this doesn't really include anything about the movie you wouldn't see by just watching the movie. Though there are interesting bits about how the actual experience gets eclipsed by the stories/movie made about it.

In sum, a good review of the journey's highlights with pretty pictures.

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

A picture book that I used to accompany the memoir written by Robyn Davidson, Tracks, originally published in 1980. The picture book includes photos by Rick Smolan, who intermittently photographed Robyn along her trek across the western Australian desert to the Indian Ocean in 1978, and also includes pictures from the feature film "Tracks" made in 2015, from the set of the film.

[DoctorM · Rating 4 out of 5]

Lovely photos both from the film and from Davidson's own journey--- beautiful visuals. Davidson's essay for the book, though, her thirty-years-after summing-up, is rather downbeat. Nonetheless, a good accompaniment to the film and to the memoir (worth finding all on its own).

[Christine Sinclair · Rating 5 out of 5]

Stunning photographs abound in this oversized book about Robyn Davidson's incredible solo trek across Australia, and the film based on her story. Read her book, Tracks, see the movie, then read this book!

[Li · Rating 5 out of 5]

The photographs breathe life into the story. Fortunately one of the participating libraries in my district library had a copy to lend.

[Susana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Those stars are for Rick Smolan's photos of Robyn Davidson's original journey. I wasn't as interested in the back part of the book related to the movie.

[Rick · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A Magical Book” The Wall Street Journal

"A remarkable approach to an incredible story." -- Publishers Weekly

"INSIDE TRACKS is a stunningly good book and should be at the top of your Christmas list." -- National Press Photographers Association

"INSIDE TRACKS is an amazingly beautiful coffee-table book, high above the average holiday gift." -- The Oregonian

"A beautiful document of a beautiful woman who trekked across beautiful Australia with four nasty camels and a loyal dog." -- Library Journal

[Annie Vu · Rating 5 out of 5]

an Australian travel classic with stunning photography. I watched the movie, read the original book by Robyn and read this book. Just like Robyn said, each version has their own stories with their own artistic authenticity. It also makes a very eye catching coffee table book, the photo of Robyn and her camel swimming in the ocean ought to catch everybody' curiosity and draw them in at the first glance, and boy does it not disappoint!

[Brigid · Rating 3 out of 5]

Gorgeous photos from Rick Smolan, though probably technically dolled up. It was fun to see the photos he took when Robyn made her trip (I'll have to read "Tracks" again since I didn't even remember him:)). There are a lot of new photos from the set of the movie and some commentary from Robyn, Rick, and the director.

[Aggie D. (Agnieszka) · Rating 5 out of 5]

I absolutely love this story.
This book is a beautiful interactive photo album. Half of it are photos of Robyn's trek through the outback photographed by Rick, and the second half is about making of the movie Tracks. When you point a smartphone at various photos it starts to play clips from the movie.

[Peggy Huey · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating look at Rick Smolan's photos for National Geographic of Robyn Davidson's 2700 kilometer trek across Australia's desolate outback with four camels and a dog! Even more fascinating are the photos and storyboard for the 2013 film re-enacting the journey and starring Mia Wasikowska and Adam Driver as Robyn and Rick.

[Lauren · Rating 2 out of 5]

Had high hopes for this and wanted to feel inspired. Unfortunately it felt very childish and dated - clumsy layout and cutesy borders completely ruined it all for me. Don't realise how much of an impact good design makes until it is glaringly absent.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'm currently obsessed with Robyn Davidson and her trek across the outback, so this was a great read. Photos are stunning. Insider look at the movie was a little odd, but interesting nonetheless.

[Douglas Summers-Stay · Rating 4 out of 5]

Maybe you've seen Tracks, the movie starring Mia Wasikowska, where she goes across Australia on a camel? This is a book of very large photographs from the journey that movie was based on. The end section has photos from the making of the movie, too. It's all very National Geographic, with even fewer words and better reproduction quality. I think our collection growing up included 1978, so I probably flipped through the article at least a couple of times. The pictures of other people-- Aborigine old men and children, tourists, and small town folks-- were some of the most interesting, surprisingly.
National Geographic only gave her $4000 to support the trip, which seems awfully little.
I will maybe try to find her first-person account of the trip.

[Julia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting and fun book. Recommend