Introduction -- The experimental period 1826-55 -- Photographic commerce and art 1856-99 -- Photography and the modern 1900-45 -- Postwar to the permissive society 1946-76 -- From postmodernism to globalization 1977- present -- Glossary -- Contributors -- Sources of quotations.

This ambitious and vibrant publication leads you through the world's most iconic photographs - those innovative images that have become key reference points in our conception of ourselves and the world around us. Organized chronologically, the book traces the evolution of creative photography period by period, while detailed timelines provide historical and cultural context--