The book explores the realisation of the dream to capture images by the action of light, from early drawing aids such as the camera obscura to the application of chemical processes based on silver and the present era of digital photography. It chronicles the early pioneers during the scientific revolution of the late 19th Century and the consolidation of photographic technology under corporations such as Kodak. The development of colour photography is reviewed and the invention of the Charge Coupled Device leading to the development of digital photography. Methods of printing photographic images are also covered as well as the characteristics and performance of cameras.