• International Days
• World Photography Day

Today we celebrate the World Photography Day, held for the first time in 2010 when around 270 photographers shared images in a global online gallery. The date, August 19^th, was selected to commemorate the French government's acquisition of the Daguerreotype process patent in 1839.

This day is dedicated to raise awareness about the importance of photography in documenting history, capturing moments, and telling stories, while also highlighting its relevance in cultural, social, and political contexts. Furthermore, it’s an opportunity to recognize and honor every dimension of this field: from its artistic and scientific aspects to its historical significance and craftsmanship.

But why is the study of photographs so important in social and political contexts?

Sociocultural conventions influence what is considered photographable, by creating new aesthetic norms. The French sociologist Bourdieu already discusses the social function of photography in his work "Un art moyen, Essai sur les usages sociaux de la photographie" from 1965, where he uses a Durkheimian approach to explain the role of photography within the rural community: its social dimension consists in confirming and strengthening the group's integration, which is eternalized and solemnized through the reproduction of an image that the group itself offers of its integration.

Groups need representations of themselves to inspire feelings of unity, and culture satisfies this need. Therefore, to understand a group, one must seek the expressive forms through which it represents itself. For this reason, the study and analysis of photographs can have significant political and social implications.

How can you celebrate this day? This year the theme to focus on is “An Entire Day”, encouraging to capture a variety of moments happening across the globe in a single day: you can participate by sharing a photo or a video taken throughout the day, using the hashtag #AnEntireDay and then explore the collection of posts here.

Sources: 

https://www.worldphotographyday.com/