Environmental awareness photography is trending worldwide, as photographers of all backgrounds and skill levels seek to raise awareness about the importance of preserving our ecosystems and protecting our wildlife. In an age where the impact of climate change is ever-evident, it’s never been more crucial to provide visual proof of the ways in which the world around us is changing each day.
The Principles of Eco-Photography
Before you can begin to study the best settings for nature photography and purchase the right outdoor photography equipment, you will want to become familiar with the key principles of eco-photography.
Eco-photography (sometimes referred to as sustainable, environmental or nature conservation photography) is about more than photographing wildlife in their natural habitat. These types of photos can serve as an invaluable data source for investigating ecological change. The purpose of eco-photography is to capture not only wildlife but also plants and entire ecosystems as candidly as possible — highlighting the importance of environmental conservation efforts while simultaneously minimizing any impact on the local environment.
Defining Eco-Photography
Eco-photography is defined as a specialization within the field of photography in which the photographer strives to tell the story of the natural world in a way that is convincing and compelling. While environmental photography is commonly confused with landscape photography or wildlife photography, this niche relies on photographic images to convey a strong message rather than simply create a work of art.
To expand, this category of photography may also be framed — per an in-depth, global examination of eco-photography by Karla McManus — “as a communicative genre that reflects and contributes to environmental discourse in public cultural spheres.”
Ethical Practices in Nature Photography
Photography for conservation is about so much more than getting the shot. In fact, an environmental photographer must actively work to reduce their own footprint each time they shoot in the local environment.
According to Nature First, an international organization and alliance for responsible nature photography, these are some of the ethical practices and principles by which environmental photographers should abide:
- Always keep the environment as your top priority. You should never compromise the safety or well-being of nature in order to get a coveted shot.
- Take time to learn about the local environment before you head out to shoot.
- Always consider the impact that your photography session may have on the local environment. Avoid trampling on vegetation or disturbing wildlife in their natural habitats.
- Be aware of any rules or regulations in the area, and follow them. Avoid entering protected areas.
- Treat your photography excursion like a hike through nature, and follow the Leave No Trace principles.
- When sharing your photographs, educate others about the importance of protecting nature, and be transparent about the efforts you took to minimize your impact on the local environment.
Techniques for Capturing Nature
Your environmental images should be as authentic and candid as possible, which is why it’s essential to study the best settings for nature photography as well as the most effective techniques for capturing wildlife. Not surprisingly, it can be challenging to capture your subjects, as they cannot pause and pose for you on command like humans sitting for a portrait. Studying the leading techniques for capturing nature and practicing on a regular basis can help you become a better environmental photographer.
Equipment and Settings for Outdoor Photography
Before you begin using photography for environmental awareness, you will want to invest in the right outdoor photography equipment and become familiar with the best settings for nature photography.
Some of the equipment needed for environmental photography includes:
- A camera – Although you can use any type of camera for your outdoor photography excursions, you may find that a DSLR camera with a telephoto lens is preferable.
- Specialty lenses – In addition to your basic telephoto lens, you may want to invest in a wide-angle lens or a macro lens, depending on the environment in which you are shooting.
- Flashes – In low-light settings, you may need a flash to capture the image. However, be sure to avoid disrupting the local environment with bright flashes of light.
- Rain gear – Weather can be unpredictable, so you will want to invest in a hood or a bag to protect your camera from the rain and other elements.
Your camera settings will vary based on the environment in which you are shooting and the subject on whom you are focusing. According to Adobe, these are the best nature photography tips for adjusting your settings in an outdoor environment:
- Increase your aperture for large-scale, landscape shots, and decrease the aperture for a single subject.
- Opt for a long shutter speed if you are shooting in low light, but increase the shutter speed if shooting in bright light outdoors.
- Decrease your ISO in order to reduce noise in your images.
Composing Nature Shots
When it comes to composing eco-friendly photographs, most photographers believe that less is more. Nature photo composition should rely heavily on focusing on the subject at hand, without disrupting or disturbing the rest of the environment. If you are photographing a frog near a pond, for example, you should not attempt to move or relocate reeds so that it creates a better photograph. You should simply adjust your camera angle as needed in order to compose the most effective, impactful image.
Storytelling Through Eco-Photography
While there is a wide range of wildlife photography tips available, there is one constant when it comes to environmental photography: The images are meant to tell a story. Storytelling plays an integral role in eco-friendly photography, as the photographer needs to work to share the plight of nature through their images and promote conservation efforts as they showcase their work.
Conveying Conservation Messages
Photography is one of the most powerful forms of media for promoting conservation efforts and showcasing the importance of protecting the local environment. Some examples of ways that environmental photographers might convey conservation messages include:
- Taking images of a lone polar bear on a melting glacier, illustrating the desperate climate situation occurring in the Arctic.
- Taking images of bodies of water that are polluted with plastic, or capturing images of animals trapped in plastic casings.
- Taking images of coral bleaching in the ocean, offering visual proof of the warming ocean temperatures.
Engaging Audiences With Visual Narratives
Still photography can be a powerful visual narrative on its own, but environmental photographers can go one step further to create captivating stories. Through the use of slideshow presentations, social media and music, eco-friendly photographers can provide their audiences with compelling footage that evokes emotion and highlights the importance of going the extra mile to protect and conserve the local environment.
Impactful Projects and Case Studies
Photography is an art form, but it can also be a medium used to inspire and motivate those around you. The most impactful environmental photography projects shed light on the changing nature of the world around us and highlight the ways that humans can help solve the problems that have resulted from climate change.
In addition to the projects and photographers featured below, the aforementioned global study of eco-photography by McManus incorporates nearly 100 examples of photographs from around the world and across decades to peruse.
Successful Eco-Photography Projects
Some of the most well-recognized environmental photographers live in climate-vulnerable regions that are being affected by the extreme weather shifts associated with the ongoing climate change crisis. Some of the most successful and impactful eco-photography projects have highlighted the devastation of climate change, such as:
- An image of cows wading through a flooded field in an area that received torrential and relentless downpours of rain.
- An image of firefighters in dense, red smoke as they battle an ongoing wildfire.
- An image of a buffalo herd attempting to graze on a parched field as they navigate a barren landscape in the midst of a lengthy drought.
Sharing and Promoting Eco-Photography
Given that the purpose of eco-photography is to raise awareness about environmental concerns, in turn, environmental photographers also have to become expert marketers who know how to best circulate their images. Sharing and promoting eco-photography by leveraging the most effective channels allows them to tell conservation stories in an engaging way.
Utilizing Social Media for Awareness
Social media is one of the most powerful platforms for raising awareness, and the visual nature of social media makes it the perfect option for environmental conservation photographers. Eco-photographers should work to create an active and engaged base of followers on the most widely used social networking platforms, like Instagram and TikTok. When sharing their images on these platforms, environmental photographers have the ability to add more context to each image, telling the story of the environmental challenges faced in that area and offering information about how others may get involved and help.
Exhibitions and Public Displays
Public exhibitions are a more traditional way of sharing environmental photography stories, but they are still incredibly effective. These displays and programs often draw in a large volume of interested attendees, all of whom care deeply about preserving and protecting the local environment.
Explore Your Passion for Environmental Photography at Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design
If you are seeking to pursue eco-friendly photography, now is the best time to begin studying the art and science of photography. At Rocky Mountain College of Art + Design, we offer an on-campus Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography as well as an online Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography, allowing students to develop the foundational skills needed to specialize in environmental documentary photography. Request more information about our on-campus and online degree programs today.
