Into the Light is a serious, but readable history of photography in New Zealand. It provides a comprehensive survey of New Zealand's most significant photographers and is aimed at a general audience. It draws together many threads in a succinct and lively style and is themed around the work of New Zealand's leading photographers from the early 1850's, to the present day.

It is the first major New Zealand photographic history in recent times, building on the work done by previous New Zealand photographic historians including Hardwicke Knight, William Main and John Turner. The photographers featured include early colonial professionals such as the Burton Brothers, George Valentine, and William and Fred Tyree, along with those documenting New Zealand's burgeoning identity in the Twentieth Century, such as John Pascoe during World War II and the gritty authentic photography of Les Cleveland.

Current senior practitioners such as Marti Friedlander, Peter Peryer, Ans Westra, Anne Noble and Laurence Aberhart all are presented, along with more contemporary practitioners such as Fiona Pardington, Gavin Hipkins and Yvonne Todd. In all, over 110 photographers are highlighted over a 160 year history.

This is the most up-to-date and comprehensive New Zealand photographic history available, written by an award winning writer and critic.