Environmental impacts of Landscape photographers
Theres no way of escaping the fact that most things we humans do have a negative impact on the environment some way or another. This includes Landscape/nature photography & most definitely myself. Some say that landscape & nature photographers often capture the effects of human activity on the environment. And that these images serve as a powerful reminder of the consequences of irresponsible actions like deforestation & climate change. I think occasionally a few powerful images can help this slightly but by & large I think this is mostly something photographers like to tell themselves to feel better about there hobby/occupation as Climate change/deforestation is not only still occurring but getting worse. The negative impact of photographers from the rare heavy metals that go into making our gear to the km we travel by planes & cars far outweighs any positive impacts we have. Like all gadgets from photography gear, smartphones, cars etc big companies are continually bringing out updated models because so many of us want the latest & flashiest one we’ll upgrade even when our older one is working perfectly well.
I might not have taken a plane anywhere but I took myself & the ute down to tassie on the boat (spirit of tassie). And I don’t even want to work out the km ive travelled driving my diesel ute around the country since I got into photography.
Even the room our websites take up on the web (including this article on environmental impacts!) has its negative impacts. When images etc are uploaded to websites/socials they reside in data hubs. Data hubs consume a lot of energy, usually fossil fuels to stay cool.
Long way from home - 4,593km to get to Kalbarri NP, WA
2023 I spent 5 weeks on my Tassie trip, 4 weeks through Central Australia, 7 weeks in southern WA, 2 weeks on the south coast NSW & three weeks in southern queensland. Plus 4 other small camping trips around the Mid North Coast NSW
‘The Beast’ certainly had a big 2023 burning diesel across the country
Ways that I try to limit my impacts
Travelling & photography is a passion of mine that i wont be giving up anytime soon but there are little things that I do to try to limit my damage, while they obviously don’t come near to making my travelling environmentally friendly it is better then nothing.
I don’t have campfires – Any bit of wood you pick up for a campfire will be home to numerous insects & eventually will break down into the soil adding organic matter/nutrients to the soil. Also anywhere in Central Australia plants are generally extremely slow growing so the bits of wood your burning cant be replaced naturally quickly.
I rarely fly my drone anymore – This can help with not only disturbing other people but native animals like shorebirds
Using my solar panels to charge all my gadgets even if I have access to mains power
I drive slowly & rarely use the air con
Stay in a area for longer – this equals less km travelled for the trip
Don’t sell prints overseas
Limit overseas travel – im yet to travel overseas or anywhere by aeroplane
Do more local photography trips rather then big trips across the country
Dont upgrade my camera gear until they die/cant be repaired – Buidling a camera takes a lot of energy & rare heavy metals. Same goes for my ute.
Dont venture off track when bushwalking or driving & i never drive on beaches
Buy Australian made products where I can & good quality products that will last
Donating to environmental charities like Greenfleet, Bush heritage & wilderness society. Also donating % of profits to these charities.
I don’t have any social media & I don’t advertise ‘Secret Spots’ just to get noticed/likes which end up getting crowded/damaged from tourists.
Keep any recyclable rubbish until I find somewhere I can recycle it or take it home with me. always get rid of rubbish in suitable bins & if the bin is full then keep it until I find a bin that isn’t overflowing. If I see any rubbish on a hike/beach I pick it up.
Rubbish I picked up after a sunrise shoot at Lucky Bay – Cape Le Grand NP, WA