World Photography Week

YOU'RE IN GOOD COMPANY

On August 19, 1839, Louis-Jacques-Mandé Daguerre of France is credited with inventing photography. The “daguerreotype” was created by coating a polished copper plate with light-sensitive chemicals and exposing it in a large camera. Processing the plate involved more time and chemicals, including mercury, to bring out the image and make it permanent. Portraits of the day were characterized by solemn-looking people who had to hold still for the one to fifteen minutes it took to expose the image. The result of all that was a single original image on that sheet of copper.

But it changed the world.

By 1900, film photography made picture taking widely accessible and Kodak released the Brownie camera for $1. It took an astonishing 8 pictures on a roll of film, and photography became the memory keeper for a generation.

In 1935, the Associated Press launched its Wirephoto service that could transmit a photo in about 8 minutes across the network. For the first time ever, people worldwide could see the same photo of an event and share in the experience in near real time.

Think about that.

Today, with just our iPhone, we can capture 10 images per second, take many more than 8 pictures in a row, and share images in seconds, directly to anyone anywhere. From a pocket-sized device.

By any standard, it’s mind boggling.

Mobile phone cameras have made photographers of us all. Whether to snap a selfie with friends or capture the beauty of a night sky. We make photos and videos without thinking about the magic behind it or considering the journey that came before.

By the end of 2025 it is estimated we will surpass 2 trillion photos annually, taken worldwide. Photos of loved ones, places seen, moments lived. Photos have become our universal language; understood by everyone.

World Photography Day was established on August 19, 1991, to recognize Daguerre’s work in creating this amazing medium, and it has evolved into a two week celebration of photography and photographers. From August 12 through August 26 you will find World Photography Week events and industry promotions across the internet, at museums, and photography institutions. Maybe in your own neighborhood.

Growing up, the photography I saw in Life Magazine, National Geographic, and tabletop photo books informed my vision of the world. Photojournalists and nature photographers were my heroes. I learned to see the world in a 2x3 format the same way today's kids see the world in vertical videos. I embraced photography as a way to create, communicate, and share my world vision. And it has guided my life journey.

Whether you are a long time photography enthusiast or an accidental photographer who has just discovered the delight of making pictures on your iPhone, I hope you take a moment to embrace the spirit of World Photography Week and appreciate the power of images in your life.

The thing is that it’s not just making the photos, it’s the visibility of the ones we share. There are a staggering number of forums and posts and online galleries where one can share their vision, and in doing so, see the vision of others as well. Online magazines like Blind, All About Photo, and LensCulture offer a rich window into the work of photographers worldwide.

And here on Substack there’s a growing community of photographers who share their work, offer advice, and inspire creative expression.

If you want to dip your toes into photography during World Photography Week, here are a few sample events I found on social media. Check in your area.

Be sure to check online for latest news and contact information:

Photo Walks & Meetups

1. Lakefront Photowalk – Kenosha, WI (Saturday, August 23)
A scenic group walk at Wolfenbuttel Park, organized by Fotodiox Inc. Free and open to all photography enthusiasts.
Register: Eventbrite page. Instagram+1Eventbrite

2. East Race Waterway Photowalk – (Eastern Time, with Gene's Camera) (Saturday, August 23)
Join a fun-filled photo excursion along Indiana’s East Race Waterway. Ideal for capturing flowing water scenes and dynamic outdoor moments.
Details & sign-up: Eventbrite page. Eventbrite

3. Schuylkill Banks Photo Walk – Philadelphia, PA (Saturday, August 23, 5:30–7:30 pm)
Golden-hour walk from South Street Bridge along the River Trail to the cable-stay bridge. A perfect opportunity for skyline reflections and street photography. Welcomes all skill levels.
Meeting point: South Street Bridge, Philadelphia. Free to attend. Meetup+2Instagram+2

4. Midtown Manhattan Street Photography Workshop – New York, NY (Saturday, August 23)
Guided street photography session in Midtown, starting at Café Grumpy near Grand Central Terminal. Insightful for those looking to improve compositional skills in urban spaces.
Register: Eventbrite page. Eventbrite

5. Photo Walk at the Marsh – San Joaquin Marsh, CA (Saturday, August 23, 6:30–8 pm)
A golden-hour nature walk led by IRWD through the wildlife sanctuary. Ideal for landscape and wildlife shooters. Free for IRWD customers (must register).
Details & register: IRWD events page. Irvine Ranch Water District+2The Photography Workshop+2

6. Light Painting & Milky Way Workshop – Shaniko Ghost Town, OR (Saturday, August 23)
A creative photo workshop combining light painting and night‑sky photography in a ghost‑town setting—perfect for adventurous photographers.
More info: Cascade Center of Photography site. The Photography Workshop+7ccophoto.com+7brennennicole.com+7

---

Classes & “Do It Now” Options

1. Composition in the Field Workshop – San Francisco, CA (Saturday, August 23)
Hosted by Digital Photo Academy at the Ferry Building. Hands-on session focusing on real-world composition techniques in an urban waterfront setting.
Sign-up: Eventbrite page. Eventbrite

2. One-Day Beginner Milky Way Workshop – Buffalo River, AR (Saturday, August 23)
An immersive beginner’s intro to astrophotography—including a practical session under the stars. Offered by Brennen Nicole Photography.
Details & registration: Workshop page. brennennicole.com

3. Night Sky & Star Photography – Shaniko Ghost Town, OR (Saturday, August 23)
Reminder: overlaps with the photo walk above. Stunning opportunity for capturing the Milky Way with expert guidance.Facebook+10ccophoto.com+10Irvine Ranch Water District+10

4. Astro/Lecture + Field Trip – Chester County, PA (Saturday, August 23)
A classroom lecture from 3–5:30 pm, followed by a local nighttime field trip (8–10:30 pm). Excellent for those new to night photography. Fee: $99.
Register: Photography-Workshop.net booking page. The Photography Workshop

5. Summer Exhibitions Tour – International Center of Photography, NYC (Saturday, August 23)
A free, guided walking tour of current exhibitions (e.g., Edward Burtynsky and Sheida Soleimani), offered with museum admission.
Location: ICP, 84 Ludlow Street, Manhattan, NY. icp.org

Museums and Institutions

Seeing the work of great photographers is always inspiring and instructive. Photography has long been recognized as a modern art form and almost every museum has periodic photography exhibits or a gallery based on their own collection. I’ve compiled a list of 47 U.S. and Canadian museums, institutions, and schools that display photos for public viewing. It is 6 pages of resources grouped by region and you can download the PDF using the link below.

Please let me know in the comments if you know of other public photography museums, galleries, schools or festivals that I should add to the list.