Almost from birth, we are captivated by images. Light and shadows, lines and angles, and colors and shapes grab our attention and hold us in thrall. Our parents start documenting our lives on film from the moment we're born. From birth to old age, our most memorable moments are captured forever on photographic paper to be eagerly viewed and then carefully preserved in family albums. As a society and as individuals, photography touches our lives in innumerable ways. Photographs of friends, family, schoolmates, prom night, a wedding, a beloved pet, a CD cover, a poster, vacations, holidays, and countless other people and occasions make us laugh, cry, and remember.

Cameras can capture the horror of violence or a movie star's megawatt smile. In our visually oriented world, photography is a permanent part of our physical and psychological landscape. It is also a language all its own, one that transcends boundaries of age, race, religion, and geography. The same photograph can be seen and appreciated in Japan, Sweden, and South Africa, and no words are necessary to translate it. Photography is a unique blend of art and science. It's a magical, sometimes elusive recipe consisting of technical skill and the creative process. Its most important ingredient, however, will always be the person behind the camera.