Why do we celebrate 19th August as “World Photography Day”

Why do we celebrate

19th August as

“World Photography Day”

19th August is celebrated as "World Photography Day" all over the world every year. Most of us await the day with great enthusiasm and rejoice this day by organizing photo exhibitions, competitions, lectures, workshops, seminars etc. But a very few of us know why 19th August is celebrated as World Photography day. In fact the first announcement of a photograph was made on 19th August, 1839 in France. Francois Arago, 25^th Prime Minister of France, on 19th August, 1839, gave a presentation to the French Academie des Sciences and Academie des Beaux Arts, which described Daguerre’s process of photography (Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre was a French artist and physicist. He is recognized for his invention of the daguerreotype process of photography. He is known as one of the fathers of photography). Arago discussed its evaluation, predicted its brilliant future and offered its free use to the world (PSA Journal article, January-1989, 150 Years of Photography, By: Mr. George. E. Helmke, FPSA). In this way, the details of photography process were made public.

The India International Photographic Council (IIPC), New Delhi, under the guidance of its founder, Mr. O. P. Sharma, the world famous pictorial photographer of India, contacted many distinguished photographic luminaries, important ones in the field of photography art and photographic organisations of different countries to set a day to be celebrated as World Photography Day every year. The response was very satisfactory and the proposal was accepted in different countries. India International Photographic Council started celebrating World Photography Day 19^th August from 1991. Since then, 19^th August is observed as World Photography Day all through the world annually.

-----Dr. Pankaj Sharma