A comprehensive and much-needed survey of the last 40 years of photography, charting its path from method of documentation to art form. Reproduces 500 of the greatest photographic works by modern masters such as Diane Arbus, William Eggleston, Cindy Sherman, Danny Lyon, Joel Meyerowitz, Nan Goldin and James Nachtwey. Ten thematic chapters cover the major genres of contemporary photography, including landscape, portraiture, street photography, and documentary. A compelling narrative places these artists and their works within a wider context, with rich and authoritative text.