World Photography Day: description, history and interesting facts

Art - the concept is rather ancient and has many different branches. One of the relatively young art forms is photography (in the form in which we know it).

Camera capabilities obscura

The very word "photography" appeared before our era and probably had a Greek origin. "Photo" from the Greek translates as "light", and "graph" - "write." So the very name already explains the essence of the photographing process - drawing with light, obtaining an image on a photosensitive material.

For example, Aristotle already in the 4th century BC. E. Was well aware of the possibilities of a dark room, the so-called pinhole camera. The whole point of this feature is that when light penetrates through a small hole from the outside into the room, it leaves a light image of the existing objects on the wall, but in a reduced size and in an inverted form.

Some time later, this principle was described by Leonardo da Vinci in several works.

Getting prototypes of a photo

Such a phenomenon as photography appeared in our life not so long ago, less than 200 years ago. Despite the fact that the prerequisites for its invention arose at the dawn of this millennium, the final success they culminated only in 1826.

A certain Frenchman named Joseph Niepce, through long experiments, still managed to capture an image using a pinhole camera on a thin plate of tin covered with a layer of asphalt.

This photo has survived to our times and is called '' View from the window ''. It is noteworthy that the image was embossed, which allowed him to copy. In 1840, they began to make black-and-white photographs on paper.

Color photography and modern digital technology

Already in 1861, they managed to make the first color photo with the help of three cameras with red, green and blue color filters installed in them.

Almost the entire 20th century, people used film cameras, showing negatives on their own in a dark room, or relating the film to specialized departments. And then a few days eagerly awaited results.

In the modern world, an absolute majority use digital cameras or smartphones.

A photo in digital form first appeared a little over 30 years ago. But the first full-fledged digital camera was released in 1990 by the American company Kodak.

How did World Photography Day come about?

Photography is a unique phenomenon, without which no significant event, trip or rest can do. Often people try to capture every moment of their life, the stages of growing up children, the faces of their relatives and friends, favorite pets. Using a printed image on paper, you can tell your friends about your surroundings.

It's no wonder that an official celebration dedicated to the above-mentioned phenomenon was invented, the World Photography Day. It is celebrated on August 19, and it is celebrated not only by professionals, but also by amateurs, and all those who are not indifferent to this art form.

The World Photography Day was established not so long ago, in 2009 with the light hand of Korske Ara - a well-known in certain circles photographer of Australian origin. Date of celebration - August 19 - was not chosen by chance.

On this day in 1839 the general public first became acquainted with the method of obtaining a photographic print - daguerreotype. The merit of this method was Louis Jacques Mande Daguerre, a French artist, chemist and inventor. Later, Daguerre's rights to the invention were bought out by the French government and proclaimed "a gift to the world".

Daguerreotype allowed to capture the image on a metal plate and was, in fact, the predecessor of a full-fledged photograph. Daguerre perfected the way of Niepce to extract the imprint of the image.

Features of the holiday

World Photography Day is an event for all those who like to take pictures, for those who do not mind being a model. Of course, a holiday of this nature with the participation of a huge number of creative people simply can not be boring. This is always a bright event, where there is an atmosphere of lightness, fun, ease and positive.

How is World Photography Day celebrated? The script includes, as a rule, the organization of photo exhibitions by free artists, managers or agencies, presentations of professional equipment, interesting flash mobs, as well as huge opportunities to make unique and vivid pictures. It is celebrated in all countries of the world, because activists and fans of this creativity are in every country, in every city.

The holiday is recommended to everyone who wants to spend time pleasantly, to get professional photos and to get friends on interests.

St. Veronica's Day - the patroness of photographers

The World Photography Day is celebrated on August 19, but there is another similar event, which is celebrated on July 12. This is the Day of St. Veronica, the patroness of photography (Day of the photographer).

Legend has it that during the procession of Jesus Christ to Mount Calvary, where the execution was to take place, many people accompanied him. Among the common people was a girl named Veronica. When Jesus fell, the charter to carry a huge cross, Veronica, full of pity for the Savior, gave him water and wiped the sweat from his long-suffering face with a handkerchief. When the girl returned home, she discovered that there was an image of the face of Christ on the scarf.

The first mention of St. Veronica dates back to the 4th century, and since then it has gained increasing popularity. In the Middle Ages, almost every major church had an icon with its image in its arsenal. Now it can be safely called one of the most beloved people's saints.

Day of the photographer in Russia

The day of the photographer has recently begun to be celebrated in Russia. And this day also organized photo exhibitions, held various competitions and master classes.

On World Photography Day, the Internet project Worldphotoday.com was launched. A year later, on this resource, a large online gallery appeared, where masters from all over the world had the opportunity to share their work.

Here is such an interesting holiday - World Photography Day! Greetings on August 19 are waiting for all professionals and amateurs "to create chiaroscuro."