National Photography Month

Did you guys know that May is not National Photography month? I didn’t even know that it was proclaimed to be, until I saw a post online somewhere. Geez – what DID we do before we had the Internet to tell us about all of these special days and months? Like National Photography Month (which doesn’t really exist), for heaven’s sake. Are you confused yet?

HISTORY

To listen to, errrr….read Google’s search results, you’d think that Congress recognized National Photography Month in 1987. However, a little further research indicates that simply isn’t the case.

Todd Vorenkamp over at B&H Photo & Video did some pretty extensive research into the National Photography Month assertion and basically found a House and Senate joint resolution from 1984 that proclaimed “National Photo Week” from May 7 – May 13, 1984. Nothing could be found regarding National Photography Month. Urban myth, apparently 🙂

More importantly, the true lesson here is in not taking everything you read on the internet as fact! M’kay!

OK, back to the non-existent National Photography Month! I say who cares. Perhaps we call it something different, but I believe it’s a perfect opportunity to think about pictures, photography and why they are all so important to each and every one of us.

THE FIRST PHOTO

Inventor Joseph Nicephore Niepce is credited with the below image, believed to be the first photo ever taken, circa 1825-1827. The image is of the French countryside and was created when a thin coating of bitumen was placed on a pewter plate. The plate was then placed in a camera obscura and set on a windowsill for an 8-hour exposure.

It’s quite amazing to reflect on how far we’ve come, isn’t it?

WHY DO PICTURES MATTER?

Let’s think for a minute about the importance of photography in our society. Not only are photographs essential artistic expressions of the world around us, they are also a vital journalistic record of life, as it’s happening. Singular magnificent moments in time, recorded for reflection. For posterity.

Photographs as Art

Walk into any gallery or look at a magazine cover and you’ll see displays of breathtaking photographs, creative interpretations of whatever subject captured the imagination and interest of the photographer. Just like artists who operate in other mediums like canvas or clay, photographers bring their vision and their subject to life – on film.

Every photograph is meant to make us think and challenge our perceptions about ourselves, others and the world around us. Imagine, all of that from one little picture.

Through the years, there have been some really amazing and notable photographers. Think about true visionaries such as Ansel Adams, Annie Leibovitz, Richard Avedon, Robert Mapplethorpe and Anne Geddes. All photographers whose impact on the world of photography is still, to this day, being felt.

From the amazing and well known landscapes of Ansel Adams to the celebrity and fashion photos of Annie Liebovitz and Richard Avedon, their photos always touch an emotion within each of us.

Think about Robert Mapplethorpe, who had a storied career, photographing everything from still life to nudes, but is most remembered for his exceptionally controversial and explicit BDSM photos.

And then, think about Anne Geddes and the whimsical stories she tells. Further, think about newborn photography as it exists today and ask yourself if Anne Geddes didn’t play a part in how all photographers are taking pictures of littles these days.

Photographs as News

Now, think about some of the most iconic photographs you’ve ever seen. Maybe they were, indeed, taken by a working photojournalist – one who happened to get an amazing shot, capturing an extraordinary moment in time. Maybe they weren’t taken by a famous shutterbug at all. Perhaps it was an everyday person like you and I, who happened to be in the right place and the right time, with a camera in tow.

Do you recognize some of these photos? I bet you’re familiar with nearly all of them. Why? Because they’ve been plastered across our collective conscious for years. From seeing them in magazines, in school books or on the TV screen, these iconic images aren’t just a mere memory still of the moment they were taken – they’re a part of our stories now too.

Every photo below, with the exception of one, was taken before I was born! Not only am I familiar with every single picture, I know the story behind them, as well. Each and every one of these photographs is a living legacy, defining a singular moment and sharing it with generations.

It’s funny, because as a writer, I like to think that words are needed, but the fact is, with the right picture, not a single word is needed to tell any of these stories. Some may excite you and bring you joy. Others may make you shake with rage. But that’s what a photo is meant to do – capture a moment in time and tell the story.

The First Cell Phone Picture

Thinking about it now, it’s hard to believe that there was life before cell phones. Right? How many of you remember back that far?

In 1997, some 25 years ago, Philippe Kahn is credited with the first cell phone picture of his baby daughter. Although Kahn was a software guru, his initial invention was very rudimentary – he connected a digital camera to his flip phone, wrote some code to tie them together and was able to snap a photo and send it to around 2,000 people.

He continued to improve his technology and it was eventually used by Sharp in the first cell phone with camera ever released commercially.

Along with his little girl, the cell phone selfie was unwittingly born 🙂

Life in Pictures

Every one of us uses photos to document the story of our lives, capturing important and life-altering moments as well as normal, mundane ones. And, throughout our lives, we look back on those moments to remember our stories. To share our stories.

With every blog post I write and share, I’m telling you the story of my friendship with the gals. I’m sharing the adventures of our girls days like derby day or Friendsgiving or the wine trail. I’m writing the story and sharing it in pictures, too.

And what’s even better, is that those of us with no discernable artistic talent whatsoever can pick up a camera and manage to snap some amazing shots now and then. I certainly can’t pick up a paintbrush and create a work of art, but I can pick up a camera and get some pretty good shots now and then.

And so can you!

LET’S CELEBRATE

So, in honor of it’s not National Photography Month after all, I’m leaving you with a few ideas to kick your inner shutterbug into gear 🙂

• Picture Challenge – Download my 30-day picture challenge, perfect for the upcoming summer.
• Photography Exhibit – Go get your culture on and visit a photography exhibit. Nothing nearby? Museums often have roaming exhibits or specific areas devoted specifically to the artistry of photography.
• Take a Class – Anxious to learn more about shutter speed, exposure or ISO, find yourself a nearby class. If you can’t find an in-person one, tons of classes are offered online these days.
• Create a Photo Book – Gone are the days of printing all those pics and cramming them into a sticky album. Instead, download your favorite photo app, select your pics and create a photo book of a fun event, trip or story in your life.
• Buy a New Camera – Treat yourself to a new camera or lens. My son gifted me with an amazing new Canon and a few lenses a couple of years back! Of course, I’m still figuring things out about how to use all of the features, but it’s so amazing to learn and be able to take pictures with something besides the cell phone.

Photography has no doubt changed over the years, but the one thing that hasn’t changed is that from the oldest of us to the youngest, using old school cameras, brand new digital ones, tablets or phones, taking a photo is something we can all enjoy.

A photo is something that can bring us together decades later, looking, laughing and asking, “Do you remember when?”

Maybe your memory is as fresh as every. Maybe it’s starting to fade. But, isn’t that what those pictures are for, after all?

Keeping those memories alive!