Photography has experienced an accelerated evolution, and has shown an exponential growth since its inception in 1839 into a profession of international significance. It continues to make strong inroads, in its wide-ranging applications, into many of contemporary life's major fields of endeavour, most notably those that may be described as commercial, art, and technology (as in science, medicine and education). In its relatively short 175 year-existence, it has had an undeniably significant impact on world society, socially, economically and politically, and has become a major player in the shaping of popular culture and is playing a central role in visual communication.
