“Today, we take photography for granted. Anyone can take a photograph simply by pressing a button. Yet, it was not always so simple. The invention of photography was announced in 1839, but during its first fifty years taking a photograph was a complicated and expensive business. In 1888, all this was to change following the appearance of a camera that was to revolutionize photography. Popular photography can properly be said to have started 120 years ago with the introduction of the Kodak”. – The UK National Media Museum. Photo: Two men on the deck of a ship, about 1890. (Photo by Collection of National Media Museum/Kodak Museum)

A new book published by the UK Natural History Museum showcases some of the most memorable underwater photographs taken over the last few decades in its annual wildlife photographer of the year competition. Here: Giant gathering by Tony Wu. “The first indication that something extraordinary was going on were the blows, huge numbers of them – the exhalations of huge numbers of whales. Entering the water, the photographer witnessed an extraordinary scene”. (Photo by Tony Wu/Unforgettable Underwater Photography/NHM)

A bomb squad member wearing heavy equipment leaves the explosion site at the Yasukuni shrine precints in Tokyo, Japan, 23 November 2015. More than 100 police, firefighters and officials gathered at the site after an explosion was heard in the toilets of the Yasukuni Shrine, a controversial war shrine in the capital Tokyo. Local media reports said police found possible traces of an explosion, as well as batteries and wires at the shrine. There were no reports of injuries. (Photo by Franck Robichon/EPA)

A Shariah law official whips a woman who is convicted of prostitution during a public caning outside a mosque in Banda Aceh, Indonesia, Friday, April 20, 2018. Indonesia's deeply conservative Aceh province on Friday caned several unmarried couples for showing affection in public and two women for prostitution before an enthusiastic audience of hundreds. The canings were possibly the last to be carried out before large crowds in Aceh after the province's governor announced earlier this month that the punishments would be moved indoors. (Photo by Heri Juanda/AP Photo)

Current England long jump champion and London 2012 hopeful J. J. Jegede attempts an exhibition jump over three Limited edition 2012 MINIs on September 28, 2011 in London, England. This world first is taking place to celebrate the launch of the MINI London 2012 Edition models, of which only 2,012 will be produced. (Photo by Julian Finney/Getty Images for BMW)

A tree covered with hoarfrost casts a shadow on a snowy field, shot with a drone in Sieversdorf-Hohenofen, Germany on January 31, 2021. (Photo by Patrick Pleul/dpa)

Silhouette detail of Republican presidential candidate, former U.S. President Donald Trump as he attends the first day of the Republican National Convention at the Fiserv Forum on July 15, 2024 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Delegates, politicians, and the Republican faithful are in Milwaukee for the annual convention, concluding with former President Donald Trump accepting his party's presidential nomination. The RNC takes place from July 15-18. (Photo by Andrew Harnik/Getty Images)

Turkish police detained dozens of demonstrators participating in an LGBT pride march in Istanbul, Turkey on June 26, 2021. Police fired tear gas, rubber bullets and blocked attempts by protesters to gather in large numbers after a government decision to ban pride events in recent years. (Photo by Diego Cupolo/NurPhoto/Rex Features/Shutterstock)