Illuminating History at Rahmi M. Koç Museum on World Photography Day

World Photography Day, celebrated on August 19, marks the 186th anniversary of the invention of photography. Louis Daguerre’s groundbreaking 1839 discovery, which ushered in the era of drawing with light, is commemorated through the rare treasures in the permanent collection of the Rahmi M. Koç Museum.

With its extensive collection shedding light on the history of industry, transportation, and communication, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum is home to numerous cameras that shaped the history of photography. The museum features artifacts ranging from an 1885 English camera using glass negatives to a 1927–1936 German Zeiss Ikon bellows camera. Standout pieces include the Polaroid Automatic 355, one of the first cameras with self-developing film, and the Zorki 11, the Soviet Union’s first fully automatic camera.

Among the museum’s highlights are the Leica camera, which master photographer Ara Güler called “the world’s most perfect machine,” and a stereoscopic hand viewer for creating three-dimensional images.

With over 20,000 objects in its rich collection, the Rahmi M. Koç Museum offers an inspiring environment for both amateur and professional photographers. All photography enthusiasts are invited to explore history and art through their own lenses on this special day.