Category: Photography & Conservation

The most basic definition of conservation photography is using photography to advocate for conservation causes. But isn’t that just landscape, nature, or wildlife photography? It can be but conservation photography focuses more on educating and changing behaviors or taking action.

When most people think about conservation they think of saving the rainforest. Or helping an endangered animal but it is much deeper than that.

We need to take care of the humans too.

You may be wondering what social issues and conservation have to do with each other. A lot. And we are only just starting to really look at the intersection of these issues. Marginalized individuals are more likely to suffer because of climate change. How? Drought. Extreme weather. Food insecurity. Loss of land. Loss of biodiversity. Spread of disease. Everyone is affected by climate change but those of us in rich nations, with money, have the resources to better deal with issues.

In poor and/or minority neighborhoods you are more likely to see power plants, toxic waste disposal sites, and oil refineries. Many in these neighborhoods end up sick or dying because of their exposure to these things. John Oliver recently covered a few of these issues on his show. You can watch the clip here.

How does photography help conservation causes?

Photography can open people’s eyes to what is going on around the world. People remember photos. They don’t always remember a caption or article. If someone said, remember that photo of the little girl in Hiroshima? You probably can see that in your mind, it’s impactful.

Helping to tell others’ stories to effect change is vital.

Conservation photography can help start the conversation. It can shock us into working for change. But we have to be willing to really see, to read the caption on that image or the article that accompanies it. Often we blindly scroll social media and like or heart photos that pop up. How often do you take the time to actually read the caption? How often do you take a moment to really reflect on what you’re seeing?

We need to slow down, open our eyes, and step up for the earth.

Will you take the time to really read what photographers are telling you on Instagram or will you keep blindly scrolling? Will you find ways you can help with conservation cause you truly care about? You don’t need to spend money to help. You can volunteer if you have time. You can read their newsletters, and blogs and share them online. Maybe they are looking for donated items.

Take a moment to do something today. It can be as simple as retweeting an article.

You can where I share more about photography, conservation, and other similar topics.

As a landscape (nature, wildlife) photographer, I feel we have a duty to do no harm to the land and animals we are capturing. We are here to help others see the beauty of the nature around us, not trample on it. I believe there is a set of photographer’s responsibilities.

But how do we make sure we aren’t damaging nature?

First, we should follow outdoor rule number one, take only photos and leave only footprints. This means to pack out what you pack in, even food scraps. It may be “natural” but still takes years to decompose and can be harmful to animals that may come across it. Always stay on established trails. Do not use social trails. Social trails may seem enticing, it’s a short cut and how much harm can I really do? In places throughout the southwest you think, it’s just sand but there’s an entire ecosystem in that sand. One that takes hundreds of years to make. One that is extremely delicate. 

We don’t stay on trails so we all only get the same shots. We stay on the trail to protect the smallest of lifeforms.

When headed out to a new to you area, do your research. Find out about local rules and what you can do to keep the area healthy. Google and Social Media have made this so much easier. Start with a google search. Confused? Reach out to local photographers or others that know the area and the rules. We can always reach out to the local park governing body and ask questions to make sure you don’t accidentally break the rules.

Now this next one will probably ruffle some feathers… don’t do it for the ‘gram. Don’t get that photo off trail to show off on social media. Don’t post location data. For me, I’ll say the park but I won’t give the exact location or coordinates. I’ve usually spent time researching and trying to find something I haven’t seen plastered all over social media. Other can do the work too. I don’t omit it to make it hard on others.

I do it to protect the land. 

When posting your photos, educate your audience. I will often try to give some facts about the area (or animal). Sometimes that includes if it’s endangered or at risk. Be transparent. If you altered something significantly, tell them. I mostly do basic editing or cropping on my photos. I don’t usually remove items in post or replace skies but if I did? I’d let you know. 

Lastly, let’s get into some wildlife guidelines. These can get pretty controversial too but I definitely believe we need to protect the animals over getting the shot. Others may not agree but I would hope they consider the animals.

First, do not interact with wildlife. Study the animals you want to photograph and know their patterns and signs of stress. We should not be causing more stress to them.

Do not feed or bait wildlife. We need to keep them wild. Once they become used to humans and human food, they are endangered of being killed.

Choose legitimate sanctuaries and zoos if you photograph captive animals. Choose places that are there to help them, not display and make money off of them. Avoid game farms. 

And again, be transparent. If you photograph captive animals, let your audience know. If you are in the wild and use a 600mm zoom lens? Tell them you use a telephoto lens and aren’t as close to that bear as you may seem.

What it all comes down to is keeping you, the land, and the wildlife safe. To protect. To save for future generations. 

What other guidelines do you believe we should follow? Drop them in the comments. 

Do you have any upcoming adventures? Grab an adventure checklist to make sure you don’t forget anything when you head out on the road!  

To quote Stacy Sims “women are not small men”. Sims has a Ph.D. in exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist. She wrote the book Roar, all about women and fitness. I read it a few years ago and it really resonated with me not only as an athlete but also as a photographer.

Most of the world is built and tested on men. Then products for women are sized down. But really, we are different, not just smaller. We have different requirements. I used to use a Canon DSLR. I loved it, or so I thought I did. I thought I’d be with Canon forever. I mean, my very first (film) camera was a canon. Why would I ever leave them?

I wanted something smaller and lighter. The DSLR was bulky in my small hands. Carrying and shooting it for hours at a time was painful. I thought maybe a mirrorless would be better for my travel and landscape photography. They are supposed to be so much lighter so I started looking into them. At the time, there was no Canon mirrorless. 

I went and looked at Sony and Fuji. I held them. I played with the settings. I realized the Fuji was much lighter and smaller. It was easier for me to hold. I didn’t think I would be switching to Fuji, just supplementing my Canon.

I haven’t looked back since. 

Awesome, now I have this light camera that fits my hands. Now I need something to carry it in while hiking. Because we hike. Sometimes double-digit distances. I need something comfortable I can carry my camera and lenses in. A platty pod and a few small accessories. It also needs to hold a bladder for water because I live in the freaking desert. Oh, and maybe some food. Because again, we hike far and often eat lunch on our hikes. Is that too much to ask?

Apparently, it is.

I’ve tried several styles and sizes. I had to return one because I swear it was as tall as me (and I’m 5’6). That thing was HUGE. I finally settled on Lowepro 200 AW (this is the newer version of it). It’s still a bit large on me and gets quite heavy with very little gear in it. The straps also don’t *quite* fit my anatomy. I mean people have hips and boobs, it’s shocking. I know. 

And don’t get me started on camera straps. Again, I’ve tried a few. None of them seem to work around boobs and dig into my neck. I use a Joby ultrafit sling for women. Even though it is labeled as a woman’s strap. It’s the best that I have found so far. 

I know I am not the only woman that feels this way. I have heard from others that struggle with dslr weight and sizes or can’t find a bag or strap that works for them. Even when things are labeled for women, they don’t always work for us. I’d love to see some companies really work with women to design products that fit all women. 

I really don’t think that is too much to ask.

What products would you like to see made for women? Drop em in the comments!

Follow me on Instagram and YouTube to see our hiking and off-road adventures!

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Do saguaros count as trees? Asking for a friend…

May 16th is love a tree day but I want to talk about saguaros so I’m calling them trees. Cacti are a little harder to love than trees. Seriously, don’t try to hug a saguaro. Love them from a distance.

Saguaros are not endangered or threatened but they are protected. What does that mean? You better not be caught cutting one down unless you want to spend 25 years in prison. Vandalism and theft are also illegal. If you need to move a saguaro, you gotta get a permit.

We take our cacti seriously in Arizona.

Saguaros can live for 150-200 years. The average 40 feet in height. They are quite majestic to look at. It’s also fun to see how different they are all. Some have no arms, some have two. Some have several arms. And then there is the more rare crested saguaro. 

Can you tell I love me some saguaro?

The biggest threat to saguaros is of course humans. As we build more and more they lose their land. The second biggest threat is climate change. Saguaros only grow in the very specific climate of Arizona. As Arizona becomes hotter and dryer, the saguaros will not be able to survive.

I hope we can get climate change under control to save the majestic saguaros.

Do you have a favorite cactus and why is it the saguaro? Totally kidding because I also love the prickly pear. But seriously, which cactus do you like the best?

Below are a few of the saguaro pictures I have taken over the years.

Do you ever step outside at night, look up to the stars, and just stare in wonder and awe?

There is something about the dark vastness that opens up your mind to the possibilities. What else, or who, is out there? When I was younger, I used to drive and find a spot to just sit and stare at the stars. Sometimes I’d even make up my own constellations. I love watching for falling stars, comets, and whatever else the night sends our way.

Living in the city means not getting to see the stars at their full potential. Sometimes it feels like you see a lot of stars but you are just getting a fraction of them. When you head outside the city or to a dark sky park, the night sky blows your mind. 

The stars are bright and numerous. There appears to be no end to the galaxy. And you remember we are just a tiny part of that.

Life long learning is something we should all be challenging ourselves to do. One area of photography I want to get into is night sky photography. I’ve watched a few classes and read up on it but haven’t gotten much practice. 

Of course, you can watch all the classes and read all the articles but the only way to learn and grow is to practice. It’s hard in the city and I don’t have the time (or energy) to be traveling to capture photos overnight. You know, that darn full time job gets in the way.

This summer though I have made a commitment to practice while we are on vacation! We will be in areas that I should not have an issue seeing all the stars.

Unless of course, it’s cloudy. 

I have made a few attempts on previous vacations but nothing worth writing home about. See below image for example. Before we leave I plan to spend some time re-watching some classes and reviewing articles. I will make lots of notes to make sure I don’t forget anything while out there!

May has both the 4th of May (get it?) and National Space Day (May 7th) so it feels like the right time to talk about stars, space, and night photography. 

Are you a fan of night sky photography? Do you want to see more of them from me?