National heritage preserved: The genesis of the U.S. national parks

Today, America’s national parks are a cherished aspect of our national identity, containing some of our most iconic natural landscapes and wonders. And for more than a century, this had been the case. But it hasn’t always been this way. 

Image source: nps.gov

The first national parks began in the late 19th and early 20th centuries and were the result of a movement that aimed to protect America’s wild spaces, which seemed to dwindle in the advent of agriculture and industrialization. 

The first national park, Yellowstone, was established by the Act of March 1, 1872, as a place of leisure for families within what was then the territories of Montana and Wyoming. It would be in 1916, however, when the National Park Service dedicated to the protection and preservation of these places was established. In 1933, more national monuments and military sites of significance were transferred to the National Park Service. 

Before many of the modern parks we know became established, they were already the focal point for conservation efforts. In 1928, the foundations of what would become the Florida Everglades National Park were spearheaded by landscape artist Ernest Coe. Although the park was formally established in 1932, it wouldn’t have its recognizable borders until 1945 and would remain imperiled for much of its history, prompting activism from people like journalist Marjory Stoneman Douglas to further its conservation. 

Today, the United States and its affiliated territories are home to more than 400 national parks, each preserving a wide array of significant wilderness areas and sites of national cultural and historical significance. 

Image source: doi.gov

My name’s Jack Elway, a former professional photographer and lifelong fan of our country’s many national parks. Follow me on Twitter for more on my thoughts on the splendor of the wilderness.

Photography and Social Media

Some photography enthusiasts say that social media is destroying the art of photography. While this statement could be true in some ways, it’s best to think that it’s “social media for photography” rather than “social media vs. photography”. Photographers who have started their career in others platforms and have transferred to social media can attest that the platform works for the art just fine.

Image source: socialmediatoday.com

Photographers nowadays have more reach than photographers before who would have their work published to be noticed. With personal social media accounts gaining following from people around the globe, the spread of pictures taken by professional photographers are seeing more light than those of the past. However, using the social media as an avenue for sharing professionally captured photographs has its drawbacks.
Social media is known by many as a giver of instant gratification. Posting your photographs online, especially when they are not what the people are looking for, may not gain a like or even a closer view. Few of the Internet’s population is interested in professionally shot photographs, as most would rather choose Instagram posts by their favorite personalities. It has become a daily thing that a thoroughly conceived picture may not garner the applause of social media regulars.
Being successful in making your mark in photography with the help of social media can be challenging, but it would always be worth it. Reaching your favorable audience and sharing with them your best work will surely help your art thrive in a platform once thought to be its enemy.

Image source: getbusyliving.ch

Jack Elway is a retired photographer who has traveled around the country to take photos of national parks. At present, he is in Denver spending time by himself to shoot the wilderness there. Follow his blog for updates about photography.