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What’s a responsible nature photographer to do? Is it ethical for nature photographers to create and sell NFTs for income? The guidance from Nature First is very much related to our thoughts on nature photography and climate change. All nature photographers should take responsibility for learning about the environmental impact of their actions, and carefully consider how they can limit and reduce their own individual impact.

I have not been writing much lately. It is easy to produce a quick article to meet an editor’s deadline, but it is not so easy to write something worth saying. Will it just add to all the other noise that is already out there? That is always the fear—and I find the same applies to the production of photographs, which is why there are times in my own photography practice where I don’t shoot anything seriously for months at a time.

I’ve been a nature photographer for over 25 years. I have an intrinsic appreciation for wild and natural places and the creatures that inhabit them. I made that appreciation the focus of my undergrad education, having earned a degree in Ecology & Evolution but also having taken just about every course that the University of Pittsburgh offered relating to nature and the study of the natural world.

When we make images in nature, what are we doing?

Representing reality, or creating an artful interpretation?

And when we process an image, adding contrast, vibrance and sharpening, are we ‘improving on nature’?

A few years ago while on a road trip across the American West I decided to stop and photograph the iconic Mesa Arch in Canyonlands National Park. (Original, I know…) Admittedly, I was a little hesitant in doing this – I’d heard horror stories of altercations breaking out between jostling photographers, and knew that the location turns out dozens of near identical sunrise images every single day. You have to admit though, that scene is pretty spectacular; and a respected workshop leader had urged that I at least shoot it once for myself. So I decided to give it a go.

As we travel for holiday and vacation, we have an opportunity to show that we put nature first in our travels and photography. By planning ahead and thinking about reducing our impact, we can be an example to others as nature photographers.