(back cover) <br><i>Icons of Culture: Photography </i>presents the spellbinding ideas and images of 50 of the most influential photographers in history and chronicles 10 of the most significant trends and developments in the field.<br><br>Following the personal histories and photography of such luminaries from around the world as Man Ray, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Annie Leibovitz, and Cecil Beaton, this intriguing book sheds light on the inspirational forces that have shaped the way in which the world views itself. <br><br>From portraiture to fashion, and from photojournalism to gallery art, <i>Icons of Culture: Photography</i>offers a clear, concise understanding of the evolution of one of humankind's most versatile and revealing art forms. (front flap)<br>The medium of photography is now so ubiquitous that we come across thousands of photographic images every day but seldom consider the photographers who created them. This informative and accessible volume helps fill that gap by taking you through the achievements of pioneers in the field, following 50 of the most influential photographers in history and 10 key concepts in the evolution of photography.<br><br>From its mechanical beginnings to its development as an art form, and from war journalism to celebrity paparazzi,<i> Icons of Culture: Photography</i>explores the social and technical changes that have made the medium such a pervasive force in our lives.<br><br>(back flap) <br>Chris Dickie has been writing about and publishing photography for 25 years. He was Editor and Publisher of the<i>British Journal of Photography </i>(the oldest photo journal in the world) from 1987 to 2003. For the past five years, he has been publishing the quarterly fine art photo journal Ag, alongside two or three photography-related books each year. In all, he has now published almost 1500 magazines and books on the subject, including <i>Photo Projects: How to Plan and Publish Your Photography.</i>Chris is also an Honorary Fellow of the British Institute of Photography.