By Cecilia S. Angeles How do we know what is happening outside our physical world?  We are in Manila, so how do we know about the tremendous battle in Marawi and its condition today? How do we see the current eruption of Mt. Mayon emitting astonishing rocks, lava, and smoke?  How do we learn about the situations of our OFWs in Saudi Arabia and other countries, the petty crimes committed everywhere, the achievements of our leaders, and more? How did we see astronaut Armstrong walking on the surface of the moon? The answer is simple: photography. We enjoy the modernity of photography today. We capture pictures in split seconds in many ways. Even the simple, small cell phone can register clear images at the touch of a finger, unlike the early photography which captured images on film at a certain count or motion of the fingers. And the pictures were not instant.  The image captured on film needed to be   processed in the darkroom and would still be printed on photo paper treated with chemical developers and then hung to dry. So, seeing the image was not instant. Today, click the camera, and the picture is captured.  Yes, even mobile phones produce quality pictures which anybody can print instantly in the computer.  Yes, there is no need to use a darkroom or the foul-smelling chemicals, or wait for some hours or days to see the print. Photography has made our world smaller today.  Newspapers, television programs, the telephone system, and other communication electronic gadgets are instruments to show the world what is happening around. This will be the focus of this year’s PhotoWorld Asia, the 32nd edition of the largest and longest-running photography event in the country organized by the Federation of Philippine Photographers Foundation (FPPF). The event will be held on Feb. 1-6, 2018 at the Glorietta Ayala Malls for the trade show and at the Asian Institute of Management in Makati for the conference. In the photography trade show at the Glorietta Activity Center, photography suppliers and camera makers are expected to display their latest products, offering them at greatly discounted prices. The photographers’ conference at the AIM will bring together noted professional photographers who will share their experience and expertise with attendees including G-nie Arambulo, Gaurav Chadha, Bong Bajo, Albert Garcia, Neil Garcia, Leandre Guevara, Allan Razo, Manny Librodo, Kyxarie Salcedo, John Silva, George Tapan, and Ruel     Tafalla.