Here in its fourth edition, this illustrated chronicle of the evolution of photography spans the history of the medium, from its invention nearly 200 years ago to the digital age, with a focus on the cultural contexts in which photographers have lived and worked. Professor emerita Mary Warner Marien discusses photography from a global viewpoint, examining a wide range of images through the lenses of art, science, travel, war, fashion, the mass media, and individual photographers. Professionals, amateurs, and artists are all represented, with "Portrait" boxes devoted to important individuals and "Focus" boxes charting particular cultural trends and debates.