Once a year, people all across the globe celebrate the art, science, and social impact of photography. World Photography Day is returning on Saturday, August 19. Photos will be shared far and wide on social media, and you can submit some of your best shots to be featured on the World Photography Daily website, a borderless community for artists and art-lovers. This annual triumph of visual art is for total beginners, established professionals, and everybody in between! Now is the perfect time to learn a new skill, pick up an old hobby, or hone your craft.
They say a picture is worth a thousand words. The reason this saying holds true is because a photograph captures a moment in time, and all of the experiences, ideas, and feelings that go with it. It’s like magic: when you take a picture of a landscape, for example, it allows the viewer to see that place how you saw it. Photography transcends time and space. Today you can appreciate a photograph taken more than a century ago as if it were new, bringing history to life. If you took a photo today, it could bring our world to life for someone a hundred years from now.
Along with the ability to produce a kind of historical record, the other benefits of taking up photography are equally profound. It’s a creative outlet where you can channel your emotions and express yourself in ways that the daily grind doesn’t offer. It’s a mindful activity that fully absorbs your attention, shifting your focus onto the beauty, wonder, and mystery of the world around you. You might be amazed how looking through a lens can change your perspective.
There’s no time like the present to become a photographer. All you have to do is pick up a camera (even the one on your phone will do) and start shooting. Discover endless opportunities to connect with other photographers and create art together through Meetup.
Join an event and take your best shots for World Photography Day
If you want to participate in this year’s celebration of photography, you can easily find a Meetup event near you that’s dedicated to capturing beautiful images.
For example, if you’re in the NYC area, you could join a photo walk through Coney Island’s unique and lively boardwalk with Cityscape Photo NYC. On weekends, this group of nearly 4,700 members will gather in the sun and sand to amble through a cornucopia of photo ops, from amusement park architecture and beach scenes to street performers and the city skyline.
Keep it up after World Photography Day by joining a Meetup group
The best way to maintain a hobby is to stay connected to fellow hobbyists! Sharing your photography passion with others will help motivate you to be active, add a social layer to your personal development, and expose you to new and inspiring ideas.
There’s a Meetup photography group for every kind of interest. Check out a group like Street Photography University in Dallas if you like urban scenes and spontaneity. If you’re an outdoorsy person, you could combine your interest in visual art and your interest in hiking with a nature-loving community like the Portland Photography Group.
There are even Meetup groups for much more niche pursuits under the umbrella of photography, such as the LA Light Painting Photography Group.
Remember: it’s all about enjoying yourself
Your photography hobby is for you. You can be as pro or amateur as you like, invest in top-of-the-line gear or a used point and shoot, and follow as many or as few photography “rules” as you want! Have fun with it, and keep in mind that the process should be just as important (and enjoyable!) as the results.
At Meetup photography events, connect with others who share your particular balance between a passionate and care-free approach to making art. You can even create your own Meetup group to share what you know about photography and inspire new hobbyists in your local community.
Last modified on August 30, 2023
