Naomi Rosenblum's classic history of photography traces the evolution of this young art form chronologically and thematically. Exploring the diverse roles that photography has played in the communication of ideas, Rosenblum devotes special attention to topics such as portraiture, documentation, advertising, and photojournalism, and to the camera as a means of personal artistic expression. Her text is illustrated with nearly 900 images by photographers both celebrated and little known, arranged in stimulating juxtapositions that illuminate their visual power.

This fifth edition of A World History of Photography is substantively revised and updated. The photography of the past several decades is reevaluated from a contemporary perspective, and international developments are covered in greater detail. The main strands of today's complex universe of digital image-making are masterfully summarised and placed in their historical context, and the careers of representative contemporary photographers are studied in depth. Thoughtfully written, carefully and abundantly illustrated, and provided with a full apparatus - including a chronology, glossary, and annotated bibliography - Rosenblum's volume remains the indispensable work on its subject.