What The Saints Did Next – Adventures in Photography from the Island of St Helena.
Celebrating World Photo Day, 2016.
CHOOSE JUST ONE PICTURE | Darrin Henry
Because of Korske Ara, a photographer based in Canberra, Australia, thousands of photographers now spend hours – perhaps days even – each trying to choose just one of their own photos for World Photo Day. This year I’ve joined this particular band of togs for the first time. This is why.
The History of World Photo Day
On 19 August, 1839, the French government purchased a patent for the newly invented photographic process, the Daguerreotype, and promptly declared it as a gift, “free to the world.” The world embraced the gift enthusiastically. Although other people at the time were also beginning to unlock the photography story, the Daguerreotype sharing was a huge milestone.
The history of photography is too big a beast to slay here, but the timeline is well documented and easy to research.
Fast forward 171 years to 2010 for the first celebration of World Photo Day, conceived by Korske Ara and adopting 19 August to mark the event.
Korske built a website and invited photographers of every ability from all corners of the world to submit just one photo on that day with the common purpose, ‘share their world with the world.’
World Photo Day also encourages photographers to further inspire their own local communities by organising events, competitions and promotions. Thousands of photographers have gotten involved and galleries for each year of submissions may be viewed on the World Photo Day’s website.
And The Winner Is…
I learned about World Photo Day only this year and decided to join up. That part was easy. Choosing a photo for my first submission was much more difficult. Sharon and I shoot thousands of photographs every year. Choosing just one was a headache.
Eventually I settled on, of all things, a selfie!
My first submission for World Photo Day – the two of us (What The Saints Did Next) after a hike to the top of Flagstaff, enjoying the view over St Helena before the walk back down.
This picture of us sitting near the summit of Flagstaff, St Helena, looking down over Deadwood Plain and then out on the rest of the island, captures the spirit of not only our world, but also What The Saints Did Next blog – our photography really is an adventure.
We have been hiking together with cameras for well over 25 years. Hill, mountain and valley trails, postbox walks, letterbox walks and exploring the streets of amazing cities; we’ve clocked up a lot of foot miles.
But there’s always that special moment where we just sit down, take a breath and enjoy the view together. Just like this. Our world, shared with the world.
Happy World Photo Day guys.
I love this photo. Been following your blog and your photos really make me want to visit my Mom’s island, which we will do soon.
Cheers
Steve from Canada