by Gemma Padley
216 pages, softcover, $24.99
Published by Laurence King
laurenceking.com

Cindy Sherman is one of 50 photographers in this collection whose work has impacted the medium. In her photo Untitled #577, Sherman transforms herself into a mother and three daughters grouped for a family portrait. Author Gemma Padley highlights a technique used by each photographer in the book; for Sherman, she describes how the portraits are combined and blended into a single shot. In addition to a brief biography and sample of the photographer’s work, Padley suggests tips on lighting, lens and exposure that show readers their process.

The book’s featured talents include contemporary artists, such as Shirin Neshat; 20th-century legends, including Imogen Cunningham; and lesser-known photographers whose work has been overlooked. One example of the latter is German photojournalist Anja Niedringhaus, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2014. Following her photo of people waiting for humanitarian aid, Padley notes how the eye is drawn into and around her image and how momentum and pause can be created through skillful composition.

The Women Who Changed Photography expands our perspective of the many women across the world who have influenced generations of photographers in a variety of genres: art, still life, landscapes, journalism and fashion, among others. They’ve also broadened the medium by experimenting with its surface, using art materials and methods to increase their potential for personal expression. The book successfully presents the collection in a page format of bold type, rich color and text that invites visual experimentation for both new photographers and those ready to stretch their style. —Ruth Hagopian ca