NAPSL celebrates World Photography Day

This year too on August 19 the World Photography Day will be celebrated in Sri Lanka by the National Association of Photographers (NAPSL). In 2007 for the first time in Sri Lanka the World Photography Day was celebrated by the NAPSL.

Celebrating a day designated for photography was initiated in India by the India International Photographic Council (IIPC) on a suggestion made by the veteran photographer O.P. Sharma.

August 19 was chosen as the first official and scientific announcement on the process of photography was made in 1839 before the members of the Academies des Sciences and Beaux Arts (French Science and Art Academy) by L. J. M. Daguerre a close associate of Joseph Niepce who made the world’s first photographic image on a sensitized plate.

This announcement is considered as the birth of photography. IIPC’s suggestion has been accepted by most of the photographic organization around the world including the Photographic Society of America (PSA) the world’s largest photographic society. In Sri Lanka most of the photographic community is not aware of this day due to lack of publicity.

To mark this occasion for the fourth time the NAPSL has organized a seminar at the BMICH on August 19 at 9.30 a.m. Associated Newspapers of Ceylon Ltd Chairman Bandula Padmakumara will deliver the inaugural address. Award winning filmmaker Prasanna Jayakody will make a presentation on photography and cinema. Two foreign renowned photographers are also due make presentation on this occasion. Federation of Asian Photographic Art (FAPA) of Hong Kong President Norman S. K. Lau and world prizewinning Indian photojournalist Sucheta Das will deliver two special lectures on the invitation of the NAPSL. Also the NAPSL have arranged to felicitate three veteran photographers who have volunteered their service for the uplift of the photographic art in Sri Lanka.

Norman S. K. LAU of Hong Kong is a senior figure in Asian photographic circles.

His leadership and contribution have led to him being elected as President of the Federation of Asian Photographic Art (FAPA), the largest photographic organization in Asia, with affiliations in 15 Asian Pacific regions.

Sucheta Das has a BSC in Geography from Culcutta University. She has attended photojournalism workshops carried out by eminent photographer Raghu Rai and started as freelancer in 1998, contributing to the Times of India, Ananda Bazar Patrica, Saptahik Bartaman, Ganashakti and others.

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