If someone can identify the 50 locations photographed in his first book, Secrets of the South Coast, and photograph themselves at those same 50 locations, he will hand over $10,000.

There can only be one winner but 26-year-old Salmon told the Times last week that he is fairly confident that he will never have to part with the cash.

He said it would be a case of 'good luck' to anyone taking up the challenge, adding that some of the photographs had involved "pretty treacherous hiking".

Salmon took up photography 10 years ago and started work on his book six years ago after being commissioned to take a photo for a café in his home town of Kiama.

He was so pleased with the end result he set out to capture the beauty of the entire South Coast - from Wollongong to the Victorian border - for all to enjoy.

"Nowhere was left out," he told the Times last week.

Salmon said the book was aimed more at local residents than the tourist market and was his way of giving something back to the local community.

He hopes that it will inspire people to get outside and explore the local region considering it is "terribly underrated" and has so much to offer.

Salmon trained in a city studio and currently works for a national 4WD magazine and spends lots of his time on the road but said the South Coast was one of the nicest places in the country.

Rather than choose his own locations for his book, which features words by Shaun Whale, Salmon said he also talked with South Coast residents about their own special places and set out to capture them on film.

Some of them have been taken in the Milton-Ulladulla area (where he has family) but he is keeping all the locations a closely guarded secret. One of his personal favourites is simply titled 'The Swimming Hole'.

The 220 page, 3.7kg book will be officially launched this Saturday at the Old Fire Station in Kiama and will be available afterwards over the internet and from niche bookstores.