Elisabeth Couturier

Decades into one of the most intriguing phenomena in today's creative landscape. Photography infuses every aspect of modern life; its experimental, dissident, and modern "spirit" now feeds into photojournalism, fashion photography, and advertising alike. A number of "schools" have come into being and, with globalization, the spotlight has turned on lesser-known centers of photographic practice※on Africa, Scandinavia, China. This engaging and richly illustrated work offers a fascinating insight into the evolution of photography over the last fifty years, examining a vast range of genres, techniques, and practices, and providing the basis for a deeper understanding of contemporary photography's role in society. A chronology of major exhibitions, technical innovations, and key dates in the history of photography makes it easy to understand how and why our relationship with the photographic image has developed, while the portraits of thirty great contemporary photographers※including William Klein, Martin Parr, Nan Goldin, and Jeff Wall※offer a fascinating insight into the lives, work, and techniques of the vanguard of this modern art form. From still lifes to Japanese eroticism, and from portraits to cityscapes, the diverse schools and forms of photography around the world are brought into focus.