The lavishly produced $49.95, 207-page volume zooms in on the landscape, flora and fauna, and architecture of the Island. But, while this striking photographic essay would tempt almost anyone to hop on a plane to visit the Island, this is a photography book with a difference.

In a market already saturated with travel and picture books, Mr.

Macdonald-Smith was determined to come up with something that would have wider appeal. He believes his book can be enjoyed on at least two levels: pictorially, residents and tourists alike will appreciate images of the Island which capture its natural beauty and unique architecture. Each picture is captioned with quotations, mostly of a philosophical nature which, he hopes, will make people pause and "really think about our Island and where it is headed.'' "This is not a tourism book -- although they may buy it because of the `triangle' aspect.'' Mr. MacDonald-Smith's exploration of the triangle is more of a compositional exercise which embraces geometry, logic and philosophy, not an investigation into the mysterious disappearances of ships, planes and people.

For the photographer who last year published the highly successful A Scape to Bermuda, this second book is something of a natural progression. Always a passionate environmentalist, Mr. MacDonald-Smith says that Bermuda is, in some ways, a microcosm of the environmental problems facing the world. He believes his use of quotations emphasise a universality: "So many amazing people are saying the same things, we have basic problems that have to be dealt with, in a world-wide sense. So this book doesn't just relate to Bermuda -- the problems of the environment are closely related to over-population and birth control.'' Mr. MacDonald-Smith has divided his book into six sections, representing the six cycles of life: birth, growth, decay, death, absorption and metamorphosis.

He has, for instance, introduced the theme of decay with a graffiti proclamation, `Devil' wrought in shaky, blood-red letters across a dirtied pink Bermuda wall. There is plenty of humour, however, as seen in a picture of workmen poised on the scaffolding of a high wall, captioned with Desmond Morris's observation that "Clearly, then, the city is not a concrete jungle, it is a human zoo.'' There is, too, a wonderful photograph of a traffic sign, almost strangled by climbing vines and golden nasturtiums: only the word `STOP'is still visible.

One of the most powerful images in the book is his portrayal of the incinerator site, the factory-type tower and massive cranes striking an aggressive pose on what was once surely one of the loveliest coastal roads in the world.

As always, Ian MacDonald Smith photographs with the eye of a poet. Page after page reveals aspects of the Island which we sometimes take for granted or fail to see at all: the brilliantly coloured, dramtic lines of old gables and chimneys or spiky palms and delicate blooms.

In Mr. MacDonald-Smith's eyes, even the old ruins -- which make such picturesque images in his book -- will probably soon disappear, along with the fields and by-ways in which they stand, to make way for yet more buildings.

"I grew up in Bailey's Bay and have watched the gradual destruction of that area. There is absolutely no reason whatever for more quarries in Bermuda and I can't think why they turned beautiful Coney Island into a scrambling track which tore up all the vegetation and endemic trees. This may have pleased a few kids for the time being, but this kind of wholesale destruction and raping of what little land is left on this Island is going to ruin the lives of future generations.'' Bermuda Triangles, he says, really addresses the way the Island is going. He points to his picture of a shuttered window, broken and disrepaired guarding a grubby flight of steps. It is captioned, "The way up is the way down.'' For many, the biggest attraction of this book will be the ingenious way in which this gifted photographer has managed to introduce a triangle, and even multi-triangular themes into so many of the pictures. Trying to spot how many in each could become a novel holiday game.

BERMUDA TRIANGLES -- Mr. Ian MacDonald-Smith's book concentrates on geometric forms rather than legends.