During the years 1971-1975 Smith documented the effects of industrial pollution on the people of Minamata, Japan. Once there, he sought to actively expose the world to the human suffering and death through several photographs, essays and articles. Of this project he wrote "Photography is a small voice. I beleive in it. If it is well-conceived, it sometimes works. That is why I - and Aileen - photograph in Minamata".