A few days ago, whilst checking updates on social media, a memory popped up that I had missed yet again on August 19, 2025.
It was ‘World Photography Day’ (WPD) celebrated worldwide with a host of special events – workshops, contests, community programmes, seminars and exhibitions – to provide aspiring and passionate photographers the opportunity to showcase their talent, network with fellow professionals, exchange knowledge and enhance their skills in the visual art of storytelling.
The history of this dates goes back to a public release on August 19, 1839 when the French government announced the success of taking photos via the daguerreotype process that was invented by Louis Daguerre and Joseph Nicophore Niepce, and bought the patent. They subsequently declared it as a ‘free gift to the world’ thereby making photography accessible to all and democratising a new form of visual expression.
This year, the theme ‘My Favourite Photograph’, was a huge success as it resonated with participants and photo enthusiasts. It highlighted a simple message: a photograph’s value is not just in its visual aesthetics and form, but in the memory, emotion and message it conveys.
It’s the reason photography was once considered as art. Today, it is viewed as a complex blend of both art and science that can weave many a story artistically using scientific processes of light, technique and exposure which can convey a complex narrative, evoke powerful emotions and capture a fleeting moment in a way words cannot and hence the phrase ‘A picture is worth a thousand words’.
Moreover, it’s a universal language that transcends cultural and linguistic barriers. The magic of photography allows us to capture images and freeze moments in time. We are fortunate to be living in an era where photography has gained widespread attention, acceptance and encouragement thanks to our smartphones and ease of taking digital pictures without any special skills or training.
I recall as a teenager I was gifted a Kodak ‘point and shoot’ camera which, though obsolete, is still in my possession. How I treasured it! Carried delicately like a baby in its black cotton pouch so as not to scratch the lens; it got pride of place amongst my many collectibles. No doubt an expensive hobby for a teenager, I skipped lunch some days to pay for processing the cartridges. So worth it. Some of those happy, eclectic pictures with family, friends and wild travels still adorn my wall.
In Bahrain, photography is encouraged and celebrated by many art lovers and thanks to the GDN’s dedicated site, amateur and professional photographers have a chance to showcase their skills and get published too. Oh yes, me included.
WPD is not only about people with a fancy camera or special skills. It is for all of us who like to freeze a time in life and keep celebrating memories that may never return.
Hey, you don’t need to be a professional to celebrate WPD so, let’s bookmark our calendar for August 19, 2026 to share pictures with the world and maybe even get recognised as one of the best.
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