Monochrome chroniclers

Never mind Flickr, when it comes to the crunch the finest photography is still reliant on the alchemy of the darkroom. Ilford Photo is taking an opportunity to promote the importance of the developing process, with a display of seminal, black-and-white photographs that chart 150 years of this craft. Powerful, contemporary documentary work sits alongside historic cityscapes from the 19th century, and further examples chart the 20th-century proliferation of the photographic image, through fields such as fashion, portraiture, film and photojournalism. With many leading photographers represented, this collection asserts the continuing importance of black-and-white imagery, and will reward those viewers prepared to take a long, lingering look.

Ilford Photo: Pioneers in Photography runs until 28 April at Host Gallery, 1 Honduras Street, London EC1