Sarah Marino recently published an article in On Landscape magazine on a community initiative to reduce the impact of landscape photographers on the landscapes they photograph. While it seems a little sad that such an initiative should be necessary, it is clear that there are many people who do not think too much about the damage they might be causing in trying to get an image – even if it is an image that has been taken many times before by others in an environment that might be very susceptible to damage. The initiative proposes 7 principles for responsible photographers to follow. These are:
* Prioritise the well-being of nature over photography
* Educate yourself about the places you photograph
* Reflect on the possible impact of your actions
* Use discretion if sharing information about image locations
* Know and follow rules and regulations
* Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them
* Actively promote and educate others about these principles
You can find the article here. It is nicely illustrated and makes some really good points. There is a link to become a supporting member of the initiative at https://www.naturefirstphotography.org.