World Photography Day is an event dedicated to a visual art form for the capture of moments, emotions, and stories through images. Study indicates that 5.3 billion photos are taken every day or 61,400 per second worldwide.
August 19th was chosen as a day to unite a community of photographers across the world. It is all about sharing your knowledge, inspiring creativity, and being in awe of the visual art form in its totality.
Among the most influential photography techniques that first took hold is the invention of the Daguerreotype.
The article was an effort to bring to the fore the reality lying hidden behind “World Photography Day”.
What Is World Photography Day?
World Photography Day is celebrated on the 19th of August every year as a way of communicating the art, science, and history, and the contribution photography has to modern communications.
It is celebrated on the anniversary of the invention of the daguerreotype process back in 1839, which was truly a revolutionizing process in the whole history of today’s photography.
It is celebrated to provide a platform for all photographers to share works, learn from others, and raise images into their visual expressions for the capture and sharing of the world around them.
Why Is World Photography Day Celebrated?
This day celebrates art, science, and a very rich history related to photography. It is a day for rejoicing at how the images click and share in your world.
This one-day annual celebration was first made on 19th August 1839, with the invention of the Daguerreotype process, pioneering a fundamental change in the visual representation of Realism.
The celebration brings us to remember only the impact that pictures have on society, culture, and communication.
History of the World Photography Day
World Photography Day is celebrated annually on 19 August in remembrance of the invention of the daguerreotype. It is an early discovery in photography and was introduced to the world as a gift from France on August 19, 1839—one of the most important moments in photographic history.
The image was captured on a silver-coated copper plate by the Daguerreotype, invented by Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicéphore Niépce. This was quite difficult and temporarily confusing, but opened the way for later photography.
Thus, it leaves one to embrace the great past and present photographers and recognize that the power of photography is evergreen.
When the World Photography Day Start?
The first World Photography Day was celebrated on 19th August 2010.
On that day, nearly 270 photographers shared their pictures online platforms worldwide. That has viewers from over 100 countries. And, it was the very first official celebration of World Photography Day.
Who Started World Photography Day?
Indian photographer OP Sharma can be credited mainly for starting this event. His idea picked up and led to the first official celebration in 1991, where more than 150 countries participated with a huge number of photographers.
How to Celebrate World Photography Day?
There are many such things that you can arrange to celebrate World Photography Day. They are:
- Share images on social media: Take and share photographs of your awesome products. Provide diverse tips on product photography ideas on social media.
- Photowalk: Reach out to photographers and have some walks with them. Do different shoots and share them. Publicize photography competitions to bring into the light new photographers. Spread the word and motivate people.
- Photo competition and exhibition: Call for photo competition from photography enthusiasts. Then, curate an exhibition with the photos from the competition.
- Seminars and workshops: These will help bring together so many photography enthusiasts.
- Appreciate the power of photography: Take time and appreciate the versatility of the works different photographers are seeing.
- Editorial post in the Newspaper: Write about the historical significance of visual storytelling.
World Photography Day Quotes in 2024
Here are a few quotes from photographers for inspiration to the photography enthusiast:
“If you wait, people will forget your camera and the soul will drift up into view.”
– Steve McCurry
“I never knew what I was doing until I was done.”
– Man Ray
“The camera is an instrument that teaches people how to see without a camera.”
– Dorothea Lange
“When you photograph people in color, you photograph their clothes. But when you photograph people in Black and white, you photograph their souls!”
– Ted Grant
“I like form and shape and strength in pictures.”
– Herb Ritts
FAQ
When is World Photography Day?
August 19 is the World Photography Day.
What is the theme of World Photography Day?
“An entire day” is the theme of World Photography Day.
Why is World Photography Day celebrated?
This day is celebrated to respect the impact of photography on art, history, culture, and society globally.
How can I participate in World Photography Day?
Participate in photography competitions, join photo walks, share photos online with hashtags, and write a column in the newspaper on this special day.
