The Photographers 2014: Major London Exhibition Traces History of Photography

A new exhibition in London traces the development of photography, featuring more than 150 important photographs from the 19th century to the present day.

The exhibition includes works by legendary photographers Henri Cartier-Bresson, Dorothea Lange, Cecil Beaton, Robert Mapplethorpe, Brassaï, Man Ray, Margaret Bourke White, Irving Penn and more.

Previously unseen works by newly-discovered American street photographer Vivian Maier will be showcased for the first time.

During her work as a nanny, Maier took more than 150,000 photographs of the people and architecture of New York, Chicago and Los Angeles.

Also presented is a group of exploration photographs, including the work of travel photography pioneer Herbert Ponting, who produced some of the most enduring images of the age of Antarctic exploration, and Frank Hurley's photographs of the Shackleton expedition.

Featured alongside these are original, rare Nasa photographs from space missions.

The exhibition is a rare opportunity to see old masters of the medium and contemporary exponents featured side by side.

Contemporary photographers on show include Edward Burtynsky, Michael Wolf, Steve McCurry and Nadav Kander.

The show is so large and expansive in its scope that it demands two galleries to do it justice. The Photographers 2014 will be shown at Beetles+Huxley and Osborne Samuel from 20 November to 23 December 2014.