Defining photography is impossible. Revealing it is another matter, and that's what The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography does, with each turn of the page. History: The technical origins and evolution of photography are half of the story. The other half consists of the ways that cultural forces have transformed photography into a constellation of practices more diverse than any other mode of representation. Photographers can tell a more in-depth story through a photo like Dorothea Lange's "Migrant Mother" than a journalist ever could with the written word alone. Major themes and practitioners: Over 25 entries, many with supporting illustrations, examine the figures, trends, and ideas that have contributed most heavily to the history and current state of photography. Contemporary issues: The issues influencing photography today are more complex than at any other time in its history. Questions of ethics, desire, perception, digitization, and commercialization all vie for attention. Hear what the experts have to say about crucial issues such as whether or not the images we take today will last the test of time, and if so, how? When material is covered this skillfully, "concise" is no compromise. The Concise Focal Encyclopedia of Photography is packed with useful information, compelling ideas, and - best of all - pure pleasure.

邁剋爾·佩雷斯（Michael R. Peres），羅徹斯特理工學院生物醫學影像傳播係主任，同時也是該校攝影藝術與科學學院教授。自1986年他在羅切斯特理工學院任教以來，已齣版多部著作，齣席百餘場成果報告講座，並在美國、瑞典、坦桑尼亞、荷蘭、德國以及澳大利亞舉辦攝影工作 坊。佩雷斯還是倫納特·尼爾森奬提名委員會主席。2003年，他因傑齣的教學貢獻被授予艾森哈特卓越教學奬。

王瑞，國際攝影文化交流策展人和協調人、攝影傢、攝影評論傢和攝影史學者。曾在美國和中國舉辦多次個展和參加國際聯展，攝影作品被中美多傢博物館等機構永久收藏。發錶大量攝影評論、史論、西方攝影傢介紹等方麵的專業文章，在中國多所大學任客座教授。曾策劃和協調中國平遙國際攝影大展、中國濟南當代國際攝影雙年展等大型展覽項目。