World Photography Day is celebrated every 19 August. But what is the origin of this day and since when has it been celebrated?
An event that, as we shall see, has a markedly global character due to how it has evolved since its origin and the contribution of people from different continents in its consolidation.
Origin and history of World Photography Day
As explained on the website dedicated to this day, the origin and history of World Photography Day arose at different times and in different parts of the world, but with the common denominator of the love for photography of O.P. Sharma, Korske Ara and John Morzen.
In 1988, Indian photography teacher O.P. Sharma proposed the creation of this day to connect different photography groups. World Photography Day finally saw the light of day in 1991, with in-person events being held in his home country of India.
The scale of the celebration grew until 2005, when it received a digital boost from Australian entrepreneur Korske Ara, who promoted World Photography Day in the online world.
Subsequently, American producer John Morzen joined the cause and over the last decade, World Photography Day has grown to what it is today.
Today, each World Photography Day is celebrated annually on a global scale through events, workshops and photo walks with the contribution of photography enthusiasts.
Why is World Photography Day on 19 August?
The reason why the date chosen is 19 August is because on that day, but in 1839, the French Academy of Sciences presented the daguerreotype, the germ of photography, developed by the Gaul Louis Daguerre, after whom it was named.
This invention was acquired by the French government with the aim of making it available to all citizens, which is why it continued to spread throughout the rest of the world at great speed.
Since this first photographic process was introduced almost two hundred years ago, the evolution of this innovation has been enormous and it has become a powerful medium not only for art but also for expression, documentation and communication.
Reasons to celebrate Photography Day
As stated on the ephemeris website, the day ‘is celebrated to recognise and appreciate the art, science and history of photography. It is a day to commemorate the impact it has had on society, culture and communication since its inception’.
The specific reasons for this commemoration are historical significance (remembering that 19 August 1839 and the revolution it brought about in capturing and preserving images), promoting photography as an art form, highlighting the importance of photography in documenting history, culture and everyday life, encouraging the participation of lovers of this art form and raising awareness and educating on various issues such as technical aspects, social impact and ethical considerations that may arise in certain contexts.
Telefónica: 100 years of history through photos
One way of appreciating how society has evolved is, obviously, through photographs.
For this reason, we leave you with a compilation of some of the most iconic and representative photos from Telefónica’s century of history. Because yes, this year we are celebrating our Centenary.
Telefonica building on Madrid’s Gran Via in the late 1920s:
H.M. the King, Marquis of Urquijo and Mr. Proctor contemplating the panorama of Madrid from one of the upper floors of the new Gran Via building. The author of the photograph is Marín:
First public telephone in Spain, a prepaid station installed in “Viena Park” (in Madrid’s Retiro Park), and which, because it is outdoors, is enclosed in a glass case:
1930s:
Soldiers at the front of the Civil War, in an image by José Díaz Casariego:
Telephoneme room in the town of Santander, in a photograph also by Marín:
Laying and mooring of the Tenerife-Gran Canaria submarine telephone cable, at Regla beach, Santa Cruz de Tenerife. In the background the cable-laying ship “S. Dominia”. Author: Benítez, A.
Pieces of old telephone:
Interurban cable between Pinto and Madrid, in an image by Merino:
Measured service on the Gran Via in Madrid:
Automatic telephone apparatus with central battery and call disc with interior ringing. Automatic model made of black bakelite. Author: Standard Eléctrica:
One of the first booths:
Buitrago del Lozoya Station:
Cable laying:
In 1974, Telefónica was half a century old:
Photographer Teodoro Naranjo López captured this relocation of booths:
Booth in Viella, in the Aran Valley:
Mobile television units:
Public use telephone of the 1990s:
Communications Tower in Montjuïc, Barcelona:
Poster about the Olympic Games of Barcelona 92 and the Universal Exposition of Seville of the same year:
Their Majesties King Juan Carlos and Queen Sofia at the inauguration of Distrito Telefónica with the then president of the company César Alierta and the CEO at the time, Julio Linares, among others:
Oberbaumbrücke Bridge in Berlin with the O2 logo:
Telefónica’s then CEO José María Álvarez-Pallete at the birth of Wayra:
José María Álvarez-Pallete, now CEO of Telefónica, receives Movistar Team cyclist Alejandro Valverde at the headquarters of Distrito Telefónica after managing to become world champion in road cycling in the Austrian city of Innsbruck in 2018:
Pandemic Help in 2020:
Year 2021 logo in Telefónica District:
Telefónica logo of the year 2021 projected on the Gran Vía Building:
