World Photography Day celebrated with great enthusiasm at Vallabh college Mandi.
Shimla:
The Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Vallabh Government College, Mandi, celebrated World Photography Day with great enthusiasm on Tuesday.
On this occasion, the Head of the Department, Flying Officer Dr. Chaman, addressed the students and remarked, “Pictures shape character. A single photograph is as powerful as a thousand words. Photographs capture social issues, historical events, and the beauty of nature, bringing them closer to people everywhere. The entire world functions on the principle of attraction, and photography has made our world more beautiful, vibrant, and alive.”
Dr. Chaman further emphasized that photography is a powerful medium to preserve moments, share emotions, and safeguard humanity’s shared heritage. “Photography is not merely an art, but also a remarkable means of preserving life’s memories. World Photography Day provides a unique opportunity to connect photographers across the globe and showcase their exceptional work,” he added.
Highlighting the courage of photojournalists, Dr. Chaman said, “During natural and man-made disasters, photojournalists have risked their lives to uphold the highest values of journalism and to deliver the most impactful messages to the world.”
He also drew attention to this year’s theme—“My Favourite Photograph”—which encourages everyone to share their cherished picture along with the emotional or inspirational story behind it.
While elaborating on the historical significance of the day, Dr. Chaman explained that World Photography Day is celebrated every year on August 19, commemorating the formal announcement of the ‘Daguerreotype’ technique in 1839, which was hailed as a ‘free gift to the world.’ This technique was jointly developed in 1837 by French scientists Joseph Nicéphore Niépce and Louis Daguerre.
Assistant Professor Aditi Sharma extended the vote of thanks and delivered a detailed lecture on the topic “The Role of Photojournalists in the World.” She underlined the significant contribution of photojournalists in making the world more meaningful and beautiful. Recalling history, she noted that the French Government made this technique freely available to the world on August 19, 1839, and since then, the day has been observed globally as World Photography Day.
On this occasion, the Principal of the college, Dr. Sanjeev Kumar, conveyed his best wishes to all photographers and students.
Students of the department, including Mridul and Jagrati Thakur, also shared their views. Final-year students—Himani, Khushi, Kashish, Priyanshu, Kanika, Vedram, Payal, Jeevan, Sakshi, and Muskan—were present during the celebration.
