World Photography Day 2020 – We Bet You Didn’t Know These Facts About Photography!

World Photography Day is a great chance to express your love for nature, traveling or art in any form. 2020 has not been very kind to the world, and world events like photography day give everyone a chance to connect to art and celebrate life no matter what we are going through. August 19, every year is celebrated as the World Photography Day, which aims to encourage and inspire people to share their side of the world with the rest of the world. This is also a great opportunity to learn about various facts related to the art of photography. For instance, did you know who invented the camera? For the record, Johann Zahn is the one who did! Intrigued much? Here are a few more photography fun-facts that you might interest you:

• What was the first-ever photograph taken?

The oldest picture of the world was photographed by ‘Joseph Nicéphore Niépce’, which was captured using heliography (learn more about this technique below). It was a shot taken from a window at Niépce’s estate in Burgundy.

• What is the Heliography technique?

The word Heliography originated by combining the words helios- meaning the sun and graphein- meaning writing. It was a one of a kind photographic technique invented by Joseph Nicéphore Niépce somewhere around 1822. Heliography involved fixing the images of an object using sunlight in the camera obscura and then reproducing these images via printing. In that era, the only method of printing known to mankind was engraving. Hence, the final photograph using the Heliography technique would be the image engraved on a metal plate. Nicéphore also named his first photograph as the Heliograph- meaning sun writing or work of the sun. 

• What was the first camera offered for sale?

George Eastman was the first person to manufacture the paper film in 1885 for his camera, which was the first-ever camera offered for sale. It was called the “KODAK”. 

• Why did people not smile in their photographs in the old years?

Smiling is a standard expression in photographs. But have you ever wondered why people lacked smiles in pictures that go back many centuries? A very interesting fact for the lack of smiles is that in the early years of photography, it took too long to capture a photograph. Back then, they did not have techniques that could capture pictures in milliseconds. So, people could not hold their smile in pictures for too long. Don’t believe this? Why not give it a try yourself and see for yourself how long is too long. Sounds like a valid reason to us though! 

• Why is it said that a picture is worth a thousand words?

A picture has the power to capture any place, person, experience, expression, motion, or a moment. It can become someone’s truth, reason, joy, idea, or even a proof of something that ever existed. Photographs have the ability to convey feelings effectively and faster than even words can. For these reasons and maybe more, it’s said that a picture is worth a thousand words. 

• What are the different forms of photography

Photography allows people to share their experiences in any form. However, to categorize various forms of photography, it is classified as:

• Landscape photography
• Street photography
• Portrait photography
• Travel photography
• Wildlife photography
• Newborn photography
• Macro photography

Take World Photography Day 2020 as a chance to share your side of the world. As it is said, “There is one thing that a photograph must contain, the humanity of the moment.” So, maybe you can use this day to show the world how your country, city, state, or neighborhood is emerging out stronger after the COVID-19 pandemic. Or anything else that interests or inspires you. Go snap!