Photo Net Discussion:

"A lot has been tossed around about violations and abuses by some nature photographers. One of the glaring gaps exposed by the facts and debate is the lack of effective leadership and advocacy in the nature photography community." [Anonymous comment]

Look, 'field ethics' are beyond most professional organizations to control. We can, with education, help modify some of the behavior of some of the people within our ranks, but it is highly idealistic to assume that we can effectively control the behavior of nature photographers everywhere. You can bet that the worst offenders amongst us are the least involved in any professional organization.

We bring our personal ethics into the field with us. We don't create them on the spot. They are born out of years of being in the world where certain guiding principles of behavior were instilled us because of our life circumstances. This is not rocket science. Those who come from adversarial environments have less time to focus on building solid personal ethics than those who constantly had to 'shoot from the hip' in survival mode. I would like to think that the majority of nature photographers share my views of the world but, frankly, they probably do not. Some so-called nature photographers are out to 'get the shot' no matter what. I am not. Some so-called nature photographers will put wildlife at risk if it means getting the shot. I will not.

I have traveled widely, and I have a solid base in conservation and environmental politics. Most nature shooters do not although most of us would wish for that. The average shooter has stock in mind and he or she will try to meet that need no matter what.

Don't look to NANPA or any other photography organization to effect change in that. You must do that for yourself. You have to evaluate your own internal ethical principles and see where they fall - and they might surprise you. Clean your own house first, THEN you can begin the arduous process of trying to clean others' houses.

Photography reflects how a given person lives in the world. Some of us are better models than others and, quite frankly, some so-called nature photographers are poor to middlin' models at best.

Posted on the Photo Net Newsgroup

Source: www.photo.net/bboard/q-and-a-fetch-msg?msg_id=001ogk