From its beginnings photography has been the medium of documentation. Views of cities, landscapes and portraits of the famous and the obscure were the main subjects of 19th century photographers. The prevailing perception was of distant views, grand building, important people and a society that celebrated the triumph of work and an established order.

The technological development of camera lenses and enlargers allowed 20th century photographers more flexibility. Previously inaccessible landscapes like Antarctica and the Australian Centre could now be caught on film. But even more important was a changing attitude towards what was considered worthy of being photographed. Photographers were free to see the world very differently. The 20th century's credo concerned the viewpoint rather than the view.

This collection also shows the many similarities between 19th and 20th century photography: the response to beauty or awesome spectacle remains part of the human spirit. But photographers have also been able to see the way our altered society now admits and accepts differences more readily. By comparing the work of the two centuries, we can see the contrasts between photographs and time.

Helen Glad