World Photography Day takes place on August 19th 2011. Photographers are invited to capture their world and get involved at www.worldphotoday.org. The worldphotoday.org website allows photographers from all walks of life to join in the celebration, and share what photography means to them.

World Photography Day: August 19 - Share your world, with the world!

World Photography Day is an international celebration and on August 19th 2011, photographers and photography fans alike are invited to capture their world and get involved at www.worldphotoday.org

Korske Ara, the driving force behind worldphotoday.org, says that we often take our photographs for granted. “Next time you’re flicking though photos from your last holiday, remember that there was once a time when photography didn’t exist” says Korske. With the rise of social media and smart phones giving us the luxury to easily capture and share our photographs at the touch of a button, there was a time when precious moments couldn’t be captured, uploaded and shared. Korske strongly believes “a photograph isn’t ‘just’ a picture and isn’t ‘just’ art. It’s a memory frozen in time, emotions and all,” and as such developed the worldphotoday.org website to allow photographers from all walks of life to join in the celebration, and share what photography means to them.

For the last 20 years, a growing number of enthusiasts have celebrated how valuable a photograph can be. As the event gains momentum, 2011 is set for an even bigger audience! If you are a photography lover, you are invited to browse through the online gallery and vote for your favourite photographs. Hobbists are encouraged to share the passion you have captured. For the emerging photographer, World Photography Day is a great platform to showcase your portfolio. The full time photographer might wish to get back to basics and share a photo that captures the essence of your profession, or If your business or community group is involved in photography, share some snap shots within your community.

This year, World Photography Day is supporting Kiva, a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. Leveraging the internet and a worldwide network of microfinance institutions, Kiva lets individuals lend as little as $25 to help create opportunity around the world.

World Photography Day originates from the invention of the Daguerreotype, a photographic process developed by Louis Daguerre. On January 9, 1839 The French Academy of Sciences announced the Daguerreotype process but a few months later on August 19, 1839 the French government announced the invention as a gift “free to the world.” Another photographic process, the Calotype, was also invented in 1839 but later announced in 1841. Together, the invention of both the Daguerreotype and Calotype processes mark 1839 as the year that photography was invented - what better achievement to celebrate!

To participate in World Photography Day, capture your world on August 19th and share it by registering today at http://www.worldphotoday.org/

Your Comments