Julia Margaret Cameron (1815–79) was a groundbreaking 19th-century photographer known for her unconventional methods and pioneering portraits. Initially criticized, Cameron is now acclaimed for her significant contributions to photography. The book coincides with her bicentenary and the 150th anniversary of her sole lifetime museum exhibition at the Victoria and Albert Museum in 1865. Curator Marta Weiss utilizes the V&A's collection, including photographs directly acquired from Cameron and her letters to the museum's founding director, to narrate her artistic evolution. She unveils newly discovered photographs that once belonged to Cameron's mentor, G.F. Watts, revealing unrecognized aspects of her experimental techniques.
