Photography: The Definitive Visual History (Pre-Owned)

200 years of photography in one stunning volume.

Photography: The Definitive Visual History by Tom Ang is the essential coffee-table book for anyone serious about the medium — a sweeping, richly illustrated journey through the history of photography from its earliest origins to the digital age.

The book profiles 50 of the most famous photographers, with special features on Pulitzer Prize-winners and thematic timelines covering portrait, war, advertising, and fashion photography. It dissects classics such as Daguerre's Boulevard du Temple, Stieglitz's The Steerage, Rosenthal's Raising the Flag on Iwo Jima, and McCurry's Afghan Girl — not just showcasing the images but examining the stories and contexts behind them. 

The book charts the influence of social and cultural change alongside the impact of science and technology, tracing the medium from its first grainy portraits and landscapes through to photojournalism, street photography, and digital photography. It also showcases the extraordinary cameras photographers experimented with, from the daguerreotype to the latest camera phones. 

Tom Ang is the author of over 40 books on photography, a senior lecturer in photographic practice at the University of Westminster for over 12 years, and a juror on international photography competitions worldwide. This is the book he calls his finest work.

An essential shelf piece for film photographers, collectors, and anyone who loves the craft.