Nature 2025 – A Personal Mission

By Julia Spalińska

My name is Julia Spalińska, and I’m a nature photographer based in Eastern Poland. For the past few years, I’ve been developing a personal project called Nature 2025, which combines my passion for photography with educational and community-focused efforts. Through charity exhibitions, classroom workshops, and a forthcoming digital publication, I aim to promote a more responsible and thoughtful approach to both nature and nature photography. This article was written for the global Nature First community to share my mission and highlight the beauty and sensitivity of the Lubelskie region’s ecosystems.

Nature 2025: A Personal Mission to Protect the Wild Heart of Eastern Poland

When people think of Poland’s natural landscapes, they often imagine the vast forests of Białowieża or the rugged peaks of the Tatra Mountains. Yet in the east of the country lies a quieter, equally captivating region—Lubelszczyzna. This part of Poland is home to pristine peat bogs, ancient woodlands, and wild river valleys. It’s here, in these overlooked ecosystems, that I’ve chosen to build my long-term initiative: Nature 2025.

As a female nature photographer, I’ve come to believe that beautiful imagery alone is not enough—we must pair it with education, empathy, and action. Nature 2025 brings these elements together through educational programs, charity exhibitions, and the upcoming release of a digital publication focused on protecting the natural world of Eastern Poland.

The Landscapes That Shaped Me

The Poleski and Roztoczański National Parks, the Roztocze Hills, and the Janów Forests are places that have deeply influenced me—shaping my values, my photography, and my way of seeing the world. These landscapes taught me to slow down, to notice small details, and most of all, to respect nature as it is, without interference.

These areas are home to unique species and ecosystems—peat bogs, old forests, slow rivers. But they’re also increasingly threatened by tourism pressure, agricultural expansion, and climate change. Being in the field regularly, I’ve witnessed these changes firsthand—and they’ve become the driving force behind Nature 2025.

What is Nature 2025?

Nature 2025 is a personal project with a clear environmental mission. It started with one simple question: What more can I do for the places I love? Over time, it grew into a multifaceted initiative that combines art, education, and conservation. Its key elements include:

Coeducational workshops and lessons, conducted in schools and community centers, where I teach young people about ethical nature photography and environmental responsibility.
Charity exhibitions, where I showcase my work and raise funds for local nature conservation efforts.
A digital multimedia publication (currently in development), which will feature stories from the field, high-quality images, and tips on how to photograph nature responsibly.

Living the Nature First Principles

The principles of Nature First deeply resonate with my values as a photographer and educator. In every aspect of my work, I aim to:

Avoid interfering with nature, even if it means missing a perfect shot.
Never disclose the location of rare or vulnerable species, no matter how tempting it may be.
Educate others, especially young photographers, about how to minimize their impact and develop a respectful approach to the natural world.

These principles became especially important to me after witnessing the negative effects of social media exposure on sensitive habitats. I once visited a site where a rare owl species was nesting. After its location was shared online, dozens of photographers arrived—trampling vegetation, stressing the birds. I had been part of that crowd. That moment changed me. Since then, I’ve made it my mission to lead by example and raise awareness wherever I can.

Photography as a Form of Advocacy

I believe photography can be more than art—it can be a form of quiet activism. A single image might not change the world, but it can spark curiosity, emotion, even action. Through Nature 2025, I want to show that nature photography doesn’t have to be invasive or exploitative to be powerful.

I believe in patience. In watching, rather than chasing. In capturing the light without destroying the moss beneath my feet. And I believe in sharing this mindset, especially with the next generation of nature lovers and photographers.

Looking Forward

Eastern Poland is full of quiet, uncelebrated beauty—and it’s also full of hope. Through Nature 2025, I hope to build stronger connections between people and the landscapes they too often overlook. Because when we start to see nature not just as scenery, but as home, we begin to understand what it truly means to protect it.