SACRAMENTO, CA.- The first survey of the Museum's photography collection in more than a decade, this exhibition showcases the history and artistic development of contemporary photography. “Brought to Light,” on view June 16 through September 3, 2012 features more than 35 works from the 19th through the 21st century, with images by artists ranging from Peter Henry Emerson to Chris McCaw. The beauty of the medium and its embrace of aesthetic, social, and conceptual concerns moves from the darkroom to the digital in this exhibition.

Because of changing technology, the once common chemicals and photo papers widely used by artists during the 20th century have become rare. As more and more creative photographers discard their film and paper stocks, some experimental photographers like Chris McCaw have seized these abandoned materials for use in unexpected and genre-defying ways.

“Brought to Light” also features photographer and conceptual artist Lewis deSoto—an interesting contrast to McCaw. In “The Restoration,” deSoto uses an elaborate installation to evoke the historic paintings of Vermeer in the modern setting of his suburban garage. He creates a host of minute details and interesting allusions to both the old and new.

Additional artists featured include Irving Penn, Robert Heinecken, Eikoh Hosoe, Marion Post Wolcott, Dean Burton, Carlotta Corpron, Thomas Annan, Lewis Wickes Hine, Laura Gilpin, Geoff Winningham, Ruth Bernhard, Harold E. Edgerton, Edmund Teske, Tracy Snelling, and Daniel Kasser.