John Wood is one of the premier historians of early photography, and his books on daguerreotypes and ambrotypes are widely recognized as landmark publications. His other books include The Daguerreotype: A Sesquicentennial Celebration, named the outstanding book of the year by the American Photographic Historical Society; America and the Daguerreotype, named one of the outstanding academic books of 1992 by Choice; The Art of the Autochrome: The Birth of Color Photography; and In Primary Light, winner of the 1993 Iowa Poetry Prize. He holds dual appointment at McNeese State University as professor of English and professor of photographic history.