An issue that always surrounds wildlife photography is the issue of how and when and by what means was a image of a wild creature captured. Most wildlife photographers always put the subject first and picture second however there are some out there that do not and these in my opinion are harming the industry. Recently I found this extract from a Article in Wildlife Magazine by the photographer Mark Carwardine. The article was on integrity of photographers and also they use of captive animals in wildlife shots. The extract that I want to put in here is about codes of conduct when photographing wild animals.
These code of conducts have been put together by conservation groups and photography associations that are getting concerned about these issues
Code of Conduct
Most recommendations are common sense - the welfare of the subject is more important than getting the photo. Here are a few key points to remember.
- Always photograph animals from a safe and respectable distance.
- If an animal shows signs of stress, move further back or leave altogether.
- Be patient and never try to force and animal to due something. Remember that the impact of many people si cumulative: you may be the 100th person that day to yell “Hey moose” while the poor creature is trying to feed or care for its young.
- Never encrouch on nests and dens during the breeding season.
- Treat the habitat to the same regard that you have for the animals themselves.
- Respect local cultures and customs when you are working abroad.
- Check published recommendations such as the excellent code of conduct produces by the nature group of the Royal Photographic Society: www.rpsnaturegroup.com.
- Finally, always be honest and truthful when captioning your photos.
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