Filled with compelling images from revered photographers of the past and present, this book sheds light on marginalized communities who have traditionally shied away from the camera.

At a time when individual rights are being contested and when those on the fringes of society feel deeply threatened, this powerful photographic compilation delivers a message of humanity and inclusiveness that transcends geopolitical and cultural boundaries. Works by critically acclaimed photographers including Bruce Davidson, Paz Errazuriz, Jim Goldberg, Danny Lyon, Mary Ellen Mark, Boris Mikhailov, Daido Moriyama, and Dayanita Singh cast a compassionate, unflinching eye on the worlds inhabited by transsexuals, hookers, hustlers, bikers, junkies, circus performers, gang members, survivalists, petty criminals, and others who live in the shadows, on the streets, and out of the public eye. Grouped by photographer and ranging in genre from portraiture to photojournalism, these images were selected for their authentic and humane perspective, as well as for their artistic brilliance. An important testament to photography's power to both expose injustice and provide affirmation for those outside the norm, this collection bears witness to the ways social attitudes change across time and space, and how visual representation can promote understanding and dialogue.

Alona Pardo is Curator at the Barbican Art Gallery in London. She has co-authored numerous books include Strange and Familiar: Britain as Revealed by International Photographers and Constructing Worlds: Photography and Architecture in the Modern Age (both by Prestel).