NCPA, Mumbai will launch Open Library on World Photography Day

This will be Mumbai's first open and free photography library to inspire a new breed of photographers in the city

On the occasion of World Photography Day, August 19, National Centre for the Performing Arts (NCPA), Mumbai, will be launching the ‘Open Library’.

In order to promote the art of photography, the library will stock over 200 photography books, international magazines and journals at NCPA gallery for one week August 19, 2012 to August 26, 2012.

Around 500 photographers have participated in various photo exhibitions held in the Piramal gallery under the banner of Centre for Photography as an Art-form (CPA) since its inception in 1988. Many photographers have donated their pieces to the photo archives. CPA will be showcasing the works of 80 such masters of Indian photography.

Mukesh Parpiani, head of Piramal Gallery said, “On the first day, we have arranged an interactive session with some renowned photographers. Recordings of Prabuddha Dasgupta, the Indian photographer whom we lost recently will also be played.”

This will be Mumbai’s first open and free library to inspire a new breed of photographers in the city.

Dates: August 19-26, 2012. Gallery timings: 12pm-8pm
The NCPA gallery will be open to all and no prior registration is required. No take home of books allowed.

Nikon India will conduct a day-long photo walk where participants will get to capture their city.

The event welcomes photographers from all fraternities irrespective of their professional brilliance in photography. Participants will get a chance to submit their work and enter a contest, through which they can submit their entries for the best clicked image. Winners will also receive Raghu Rai’s expert review.

Besides Mumbai, Nikon India will also hold events at Mehrauli Archeological Park in Delhi, Howrah Bridge to Princep Ghat in Kolkata and at Lal Bagh in Bangalore.

Louis Daguerre, a French physicist is recognized for his invention of the daguerreotype process of photography. Daguerre presented the process before public on August 19, 1839 at a meeting of the French Academy of Science in Paris. The day the daguerreotype went public is considered as the World Photography Day.