National photography

History of National Photography Month

National Photography Month was first celebrated in when Congress recognized the role photos play in our society. The American Photographers Association and other organizations made National Photography Month a time of activities, festivals, photo contests, and exhibits.

The celebrations have since taken on a new look in the digital age.

Photographs act like time machines.

National photography

They give us a peek into our history, ancestry, and legacies from the past. Something as simple as looking at old photos can bring back a rush of memories. Historic photos, once preserved in museums and archives, capture iconic figures from history in the most important moments of their careers as well as in their unguarded moments.

Photos help in creating legends out of regular people and also humanize those whom we think of as legends.

Through photographs, we can relive the most momentous achievements of humankind, such as astronaut Neil Armstrong walking on the moon.

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