Meet Craig Brown – Nature First Ambassador

The diverse beauty that Canada has changes in every province and territory as you travel throughout this incredible country.

Storytelling is part of his creative journey. Craig believes that photographers have a unique ability to share their vision and tell stories with their images. Appreciating the fact that we live in a shared space, he thinks it is important for everyone, no matter where they are, to be able to appreciate this world.

Craig is a teacher, an engineer, a skilled tradesperson, and a traveler. It is his hope to share his knowledge with as many as possible so they, too, can follow their own passions and enjoy everything our amazing planet has to offer. Living proudly in Burlington, Ontario, he promotes our beautiful city in every way possible.

How old were you when you first discovered your love of nature? What prompted
this?

I was very young, probably 10 to 12 years old, and my parents were always wanting to go camping. I appreciated being out in nature and seeing all the little animals scampering about and all of the natural beauty that I was around.

How long have you been a photographer? What got you interested in photography?

This year, 2022, is my 30th anniversary as a photographer. Visiting a friend in Australia back in 1992 led me to an interest in photography.

What led you to become active in Nature First?

I have always done my best to follow the “Leave No trace” principles, and when I came across the Nature First website, it struck a chord with me, as I knew it was an organization I could be involved with.

What kind of behavior distresses you the most? Do you have an example of this? How
would you tie this into the Nature First principles?

One bad behavior I have witnessed many times is the baiting of birds of prey by photographers so they get the shot of the birds diving to capture the prey. Another bad behavior is breaking off tree branches that get in the way of capturing the perfect shot.

If you had a magic wand that teleported you anywhere, where would you be taking
pictures now? Why there?

I would be in the mountains in western Canada. Probably my favorite place on earth to photograph in. The natural beauty there always makes my jaw drop, no matter how many times I visit.

If we were to have a bite to eat together, what would we be likely to talk about besides photography and Nature First?

Good coffee! It is not easy to find where I live.

A picture you would like to share with us that has a history related to our principles…