The Origin And Significance of World Photography Day

by Shradha Singh I am Digitally Active

Photography is a strong and powerful medium of expression. To inspire photographers throughout the globe and create awareness about photography, 19^th August is celebrated as the World Photography Day. This celebration of art, craft and photography help inspire the budding generation to understand the importance of photography in the everyday lives. It not only commemorates those have contributed to the field of photography but also inspire photography enthusiasts to explore their skills further.

World Photography Day originated from the invention of the daguerreotype. Daguerreotype is a photographic process that was developed by Frenchmen Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicephore Niepce in 1837. It was in the year 1861 when the first durable photograph was clicked by Thomas Sutton. However, the first digital photograph was taken almost 20 years before the first digital camera was actually invented in 1957.

Ever since then, people around the globe celebrate World Photography Day to encourage individuals in this field. Photography contests are organized in schools and colleges to create awareness about the field and give people a chance showcase their creativity. Canon, one of the leading digital imaging organizations in India, also conducted a series of workshops across the country on the occasion of World Photography Day. The aim was to spread the knowledge of photography, bring photography enthusiasts closer and help them polish their skills.

Canon India also launched the second version of their award-winning digital campaign, #ShiftYourFocus. Through this campaign, the organization continues to give its support to the photography community and the environment. The focus is to divert millenial’s attention from the trending social media challenges to the real life challenges that are in and around us. The campaign strives to enable new conversations through the art of photography and thus contributing towards the holistic development of the society. These efforts will certainly help the photography culture evolve further in India.