Recently, I joined an organization of nature photographers who dedicate themselves to principles to limit their impact as they practice their art. I was reminded of this yesterday morning as I was exploring Seidman Park and Honey Creek once again. As I bushwacked off the trail, I followed deer trails so as to avoid stepping on newly emerging flowers that decorated to the forest floor. I also resisted the urge to investigate and backed off immediately when I accidentally flushed a hen turkey from her nest of eight eggs. I would have loved to have taken a closer look, but knew that my presence would keep the hen from returning to the next and might attract the interest of other people enjoying the park.
We can’t help but have an impact on the land whenever we go out into nature. But we can learn to limit that impact. Members of Nature First commit to 7 principles:
THE NATURE FIRST PRINCIPLES
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Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
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Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
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Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
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Use discretion if sharing locations.
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Know and follow rules and regulations.
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Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them.
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Actively promote and educate others about these principles
You can learn more about Nature First Principles by visiting their website here. You can learn more about Leave No Trace principles by visitng LNT.org.
