Nature First - The Alliance For Responsible Nature Photography

I belong to a number of camera clubs, one of which is the Stony Brook Camera Club (SBCC) in Massachusetts. One of things I enjoy most about SBCC is the quality of speakers they have at the monthly meetings. Recently, Sarah Marino presented. Marino is an accomplished photographer who specializes in both grand and intimate landscapes. Intimate landscapes focus on the beautiful details. Although they are detail shots, these are not necessarily macro shots. During the presentation, Marino also mentioned that she is a co-founder of Nature First – The Alliance For Responsible Nature Photography.

Nature First is an alliance for “responsible” nature photographers. What this means is committing to doing nature photography according to the 7 principles that support the group’s vision:

OUR VISION… IS FOR EVERYONE MAKING PHOTOGRAPHS AND VIDEOS IN NATURE TO BE MINDFUL OF THEIR IMPACT, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT THE PLACES THEY PHOTOGRAPH, AND AMBASSADORS FOR THE NATURAL WORLD.

The Call To Action

Take a look at the 7 guiding principles. They are not onerous or unreasonable.

Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography.
Educate yourself about the places you photograph.
Reflect on the possible impact of your actions.
Use discretion if sharing locations.
Know and follow rules and regulations.
Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them.
Actively promote and educate others about these principles.

As you can see, they are simple, logical and straightforward. They basically indicate that we are aware of how our individual actions impact it has the environment and that we will act with that in mind. We take landscape photos because we see and appreciate the beauty in it. Being out in nature, you’ve probably also seen how fragile it can be and how long it can take to recover from damage. We all want to protect the environment for future generations.

Joining Nature First is free. The only commitment is to conduct yourself in a manner consistent with the 7 principles, something most nature and landscape photographers are already doing. At this point you may be thinking; So, what’s the catch? Well, to quote the FAQs:

“No catch. Period. There are no fees, no spam, no advertising, no meetings, and no requirements to “sell” or promote to others. This is an opportunity to make a declaration of your commitment to care for our wild places by practicing the Nature First principles, and know that you are a part of the movement.”

It’s just that simple.

I’m a proud member of Nature First. Won’t you join with me in committing to protect and preserve nature by practicing responsible photography?