Photography is an important weapon in raising awareness of climate change as we can evidence the devastation our planet is facing in crystal clear imagery. From the plethora of plastics in our oceans to drone imagery of deforestation, sustainability photography no longer allows us to live in ignorance.
Instead, by showcasing the environmental issues we face through photographs we shed a stark light on the difficulties we must overcome. For forests and woodlands, this can mean drier temperatures leading to an increased risk of fires or the loss of precious ecosystems and wildlife, as we reduce the number of trees for timber.
While photography is great at highlighting the need for sustainability in forests and woodland, there are also ways we can improve the ways we shoot to lower our impact further. Here are our top tips to help you take impactful images and reduce your footprint while doing so.
1. Stick to the path
Many local woodlands, forests and nature reserves have instructions for visitors to follow. These signs are typically posted at entrances, and you may come across several more as you make your way through the trees.
Whether it be an instruction to stick to the path or avoid creating new routes through trees and undergrowth, no fires or keeping your dog on a lead, the guidelines are there for a reason.
As a photographer in the forest, you may be tempted to disregard this advice in favour of getting a better shot, but you could unknowingly be blundering your way through protected plant life or fungi. Similarly, the footprints and track you could be leaving off the beaten path may take years to disappear and the delicate ecosystems underfoot may never recover.
2. Lighting tips for forest photography
Light under the canopy of the forest can sometimes be limited but rather than taking energy-intensive lighting equipment, it is important to use what nature gives you to your advantage.
If the forest is moody and misty, then your photos can be the same. Furthermore, if we are looking to document the situation in a woodland or nature reserve it’s important to show the scene as it is, rather than making it more artistic and potentially losing the image’s social significance.
Similarly, if you are amongst the trees during the ‘golden hour’, when the natural light is at its best, this can add a natural radiance to your images and brightness.
When it comes to raising awareness of environmental issues impacting our woodlands, we can use bright natural light to create contrast in our images that allows us to make details pop out, highlight textures, or opt for black-and-white photos that typically work well for nature photography.
3. Avoid sharing your location
Finding a secret spot to take amazing photographs of trees and the diverse wildlife and plant life their presence helps to create is somewhere you will want to return to time and time again. While it is great to find a hidden location it is also important to keep quiet about it for two reasons.
Firstly, and for selfish reasons, by keeping schtum you can continue to come back without having to compete with other photographers.
Secondly, and more importantly for the planet, uncovering the latest hotspot spells danger for the immediate ecosystem should people start flocking to it ‘for the ‘Gram’. Instagram selfie hotspots are a bone of contention for many, with some locations such as Portofino even banning tourists from taking selfies.
4. Lower your impact with effective equipment
For better or worse, a photographer is limited by their equipment. Nature photographer Vivienne Arnold, explains, “For walks in the forest, I try to pack only the most necessary photographic equipment. I like to use a telephoto zoom because longer focal lengths help me to isolate objects.”
Using a single-zoom lens allows you to stay agile on your feet but also avoids destroying nature by having to trample through it to get a closer shot.
Arnold adds, “Other equipment that can help you to emphasise the effect of your image are a polarising filter and a tripod. Polarising filters are often used to bring out colours and contrasts and to reduce reflections created by water.”
5. Look but don’t touch
It can be tempting when taking a picture to just manipulate your surroundings a little to enhance the shot. But when it comes to nature, snapping a branch that’s ruining the framing, picking flowers, or trampling through bluebells to get a better angle is something that should be avoided at all costs.
Whether you are taking nature pictures to raise awareness of climate change or to simply admire its beauty, the last thing we need to do is make the situation worse for the sake of a better photograph.
6. Leave No Trace
When entering natural spots like forests or woodland, following the Leave No Trace principles can help reduce your impact.
Created by the Leave No Trace organisation follows these seven principles:
- Plan ahead and prepare
- Travel and camp on durable surfaces
- Dispose of waste properly
- Leave what you find
- Minimise campfire impacts
- Respect wildlife
- Be considerate of other visitors
This is even more prevalent when photographing as you may need to bring lunch or even camp if you are staying for an extended period. You may even wish to bring a bag with you for your visit to not only dispose of your own rubbish or waste but to collect that which has been abandoned by others.
7. Let wild animals be
Taking photos in the woods or forest means that you are likely to come across wildlife. Whether it is nesting birds, insects, rabbit warrens, or even wild ponies, it is important to leave them be and if you can take a picture of them, do so from a respectable distance.
They are already likely to be spooked by your presence so try not to agitate them further. Additionally, we do not want these wild animals to learn that it is okay to interact with humans for their own safety. If you need to get closer, get a bigger lens.
Additionally, try to avoid bringing your dog with you on photo shoots in the woods if you think there may be wildlife or if there are vulnerable plant species. Dogs can disrupt the natural balance of woodland ecosystems by destroying flowers, urinating, or catching small mammals or birds.
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When photographing amongst woodlands, following these tips can help you create more impactful images while also treating nature with the respect it deserves. We believe that our mission of planting 1 million trees to create a greener earth can also make a significant difference to lessen the impact of climate change, creating cleaner air and supporting the storage of carbon emissions.
Annie Button
Annie Button is a freelance writer who has written for a variety of prestigious online and print publications. She specialises in lifestyle, business, branding, digital marketing, and HR.
Website: www.anniebutton.co.uk
