August 19

World Photography Day

A worldwide celebration of the art, craft, science, and history of photography. It encourages people to share their world through a single picture.

A vintage camera representing the history of photography

Speaking Discussion

How many photos do you think you take on your phone in an average week?
Do you think the invention of the smartphone has made photography better or worse?
Have we become so obsessed with taking pictures that we forget to actually live in the moment?
If your house was on fire and you could only save one physical photograph, what would it be?
Should photographs be allowed as evidence in court now that AI can easily fake them?

Activity 1: The AI Debate

Motion: "In the age of AI and deepfakes, photography is no longer a record of truth and should no longer be used as primary evidence in legal cases."

Split into two teams. Team A argues that the death of truth in photography is imminent and dangerous; Team B argues that digital forensics will always be one step ahead and photography remains our best witness.

Activity 2: Rapid Fire Sentences

Complete the sentence and justify it in 20 seconds.

"My favourite photograph that I've ever taken is..."
"I think the world takes too many photos today because..."
"If I could have a camera from the year 2100, the first thing I would photograph is..."

Key Vocabulary

Composition (Noun) The way in which the parts of a photograph or piece of art are arranged.
Candid (Adj) A photograph taken informally, especially without the subject's knowledge.
Deepfake (Noun) A video or image that has been convincingly altered and manipulated to misrepresent reality.
Obsolescence (Noun) The process of becoming outdated or no longer useful (e.g. film cameras).
Perspective (Noun) A particular way of viewing things that depends on one's physical position or mental attitude.

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Fluency Catalyst

Idioms of Image: Native speakers often say "A picture is worth a thousand words" (a complex idea can be conveyed with just a single image) or "To put someone in the picture" (to give someone all the necessary information). Try these out!