The UK will hold its first ever National Photography Month (NPM) throughout June 2012. This nationwide initiative will be a celebration of the importance of photography in our daily lives and help the public understand and appreciate the importance of photography as a medium to ‘capture and keep’ their treasured memories and life’s most important moments.
The Isle of Wight Digital Imaging Group will be taking part in National Photography Month by creating a gallery on our Isle of Wight Photo Agency website and IWDIG photographers will be encouraged to upload images taken on the Island throughout the month of June to support the NPM ethos ‘capture and keep’.
The Photo Imaging Council and The Photo Marketing Association have come together with fourteen other organisations including National Geographic, The London Festival of Photography and The Royal Photographic Society to create National Photography Month.
Tony Hadley, ex Spandau Ballet front man and keen photographer and collector, has joined National Photography Month to encourage families across Britain to learn how to look after their treasured memories and to take photographs that they are proud to pass on to future generations.
Tony Hadley says: “Some of my most treasured possessions are photographs: of friends and family – particularly of my five children – or those which captured some amazing times on tour. I would be heartbroken to lose them! As well as encouraging us all to take more and better photographs National Photography Month has such a positive message about the value of the photograph and encourage everyone to be involved.”
National Photography Month has been born out of new findings that show that while we’re taking more pictures than ever before, the throw-away nature of digital photography means we are printing fewer pictures and are in danger of loosing images that are special to us. The days of the family album are in danger of being numbered, which in turn leaves pictures to be forgotten in the oversaturated territory of cyber space and the public’s hard drives.
New findings revealed for the first time:
* Photography is one of our most powerful connections to our shared memories, emotions and self-expression: 83% of us use photos to connect with past memories.
* Our nation now takes more photographs than ever through mobile phones and affordable digital cameras but 64% of us do not print out and keep hard copies of our photographs.
* The days of the family album being the responsibility of the mother of the family are in decline, as the survey revealed 77% of people now don’t make albums because they think it would be too time consuming, complicated or are ashamed of the quality of their pictures.
* The survey also demonstrated that and 37% of us have lost important images that are special to us.
* This figure is worse for younger photographers reliant on technology, almost 70% of the age group 16 – 24 have lost treasured pictures due to their reliance on modern digital technology.
All National Photography Month events are listed on a dedicated website www.nationalphotographymonth.co.uk and highlights include:
* National Geographic Kids published book – ‘My Amazing Life In Photos’: Encouraging children to use the book as their personalised photo album to commemorate notable events in their young lives – sticking with NPM’s ethos of using physical photographs to document personal experience.
* My School In Focus: National competition involving 5000 schools learning through photography. Awards ceremony to be held 20.11.2012 at Somerset House for all finalists.
* Nationwide In-Store Promotions: Big name high street retailers such as; ASDA, Boots, Jessops, Snappy Snaps and Wilkinson will be running photography related promotions all throughout June.
* Royal Photographic Society: To provide expert speakers helping you to understand photography.
* The London Festival of Photography: Running throughout June in London’s most celebrated venues including: Museum of London, British Library, British Museum, Tate Modern, the V&A, and many more… Will play host to a world-class and citywide celebration of photography, encompassing street, documentary and conceptual styles.
* FUJI Golden Moments Competition: Offers local prizes and the opportunity to enter the national competition with prizes of FUJI Finepix X-10 cameras.
Derek Birch, Vice President, The Royal Photographic Society, says: ‘Photography as we know it developed from its earliest days in this country. Our Society was founded in 1853 with the aim of “promoting the Art and Science of Photography”. With our long history of exploring the potential of this amazing medium we’ll be encouraging professionals and amateurs alike to get out there and make the most of the opportunities this celebration offers.’
Nigel McNaught, UK Director of the Photo Marketing Association says: ‘From mobile phones to digital cameras, we’ve never taken more pictures at any other time in history. But, ironically, we print far fewer, meaning that we’re in danger of losing a whole era of photographic records. The aim of National Photography Month is to reverse this trend so that traditions such as family photo-albums continue in their role recording vital personal histories – rather than becoming a thing of the past.’
David Honey, Chairman, PIC, says: ‘While digital photography has opened up exciting new ways for amateurs and professionals alike to harness the medium, its fleeting nature means there is a danger that these images could have no permanence. We want to build on the improvements in the quality of photography that these developments have created by encouraging people to think creatively about making permanent records of their images.’
Grace Pattison, London Festival of Photography Curator, says: “While image fatigue seems to be one of the common symptoms of living in modern society, we hope the high quality and vast range of festival content will serve as a reminder of both the simple beauty of the printed photograph, and the incredible power of such an increasingly democratised art form.”
