World Photography Day: History, Theme, Significance

World Photography Day is the annual celebration of photographers and their important role in changing the paradigm of art, culture, and science. It is celebrated every year on August 19 and gives photographers an entire day to celebrate their art, share their favourite clicks, and post them using #WorldPhotographyDay. Did you know that the world’s first photo was taken by a French scientist named Joseph Nicéphore Niépce with a camera obscura? Let’s learn more about the history, theme, significance, and other details of this important day. 

Name of the day	World Photography Day
Observed on	August 19
Theme 2024	AN ENTIRE DAY
Significance	To honour photography as an art form and inspire photographers around the world to continue impacting art and culture.

History of World Photography Day

• In 1988, O.P.Sharma, an Indian photography teacher, proposed the idea of celebrating World Photography Day.
• Owing to his continued efforts, the first World Photography Day was finally observed in 1991. 
• Initially, the celebration of this day was limited to in-person events around India. 
• It was only around 2005 that the word spread and people began to celebrate this day on social media too. 

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Why do we Celebrate World Photography Day on August 19?

August 19 has been carefully chosen as the official date of this important day for several reasons such as:-

• World Photography Day commemorates the invention of the popular photographic process known as daguerreotype. It was developed by Louis Daguerre in 1837.
• It took 2 years for the French government to announce this process as a gift to the world on August 19, 1839. 
• Since then, our world has been celebrating this day with numerous events and workshops.

What is the Theme for World Photography Day 2024?

The yearly celebration of this day comes with a specific theme in focus. In 2024, the theme is “AN ENTIRE DAY”. Similarly, the theme for 2023 was LANDSCAPES. 

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What is the Significance of World Photography Day?

 World Photography Day holds great significance for several reasons:

• It commemorates the French government’s announcement of the daguerreotype process as a gift to the world. 
• The day promotes photography as an important art form.
• It gives budding photographers a sense of confidence to showcase their talent and inclusivity in society.
• This day also reminds people about the importance of photographs in preserving the present for the future.
• It provides a platform for photographers around the world to engage in healthy group discussions and conduct an exchange of ideas. 

How to Celebrate World Photography Day

Here are the different ways to celebrate this day with your loved ones:

1. You can learn and teach your friends about famous photographers around the world.
2. You can ask your friends to join you in a professional photography course.
3. Another way is to watch a documentary film based on the subject of photography.
4. You can participate in contests, attend events, or go to see a photo exhibition. 

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