It was held at the House of the Society of Arts in London from 22 December 1852 until 29 January 1853 and featured the work of 76 photographers, for many of whom this was their first public exhibition.
Organised mainly by Cundall and Philip Henry Delamotte, it opened on 22 December 1852 at the House of the Society of Arts in London.
Roger Fenton gave at the night of the opening a lecture titled "On the Present Position and Future of the Art of Photography", which was also included in the catalogue.
Originally intended to only stay open for a week, it was extended until 29 January 1853 due to the greater than expected success, including visits from well-known painters like Dante Gabriel Rossetti.
In total, 76 photographers had their work shown at the exhibition, many of them British but with a large representation of Continental, mainly French artists as well.