How to Preserve Landscapes for Photography

Learn about the 7 principles of Leave No Trace in relation to photography.

Introduction

In this tutorial, I'm going to talk about preservation of the environment when it comes to photography. Now, I know most of this is common sense- but I feel obligated to make a tutorial about it because some people simply don’t know the culture. 

Since it’s an easy template, I’m going to run through the seven principles of Leave No Trace, which come from an organization dedicated to this kind of stuff. They’ve got a clean, organized system, which is easy to remember when exploring.

Let’s dive in!

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare

This first principle is all about knowing what you’re getting into. It can be easy to read about an adventure from the comfort of your couch and say “yeah- that sounds totally doable!” When in reality, it’s far beyond your capabilities. 

We’ve all done it- and if you’ve been in this scene for a while, you’ve almost certainly brought along friends that claimed to be more capable than they were. My first backpacking trip ever involved me and two other buddies showing up to a 16 mile out-and-back hike with Air Jordans, a Jansport Backpack, a tent in one hand, and our sleeping bag in the other. 

It was a long and miserable hike, you can bet we never overestimated ourselves like that again.

The point is, learning how to prepare for adventures is a skillset in itself. Do research, read reports, and understand what tools and weather conditions are needed for where you’re going. It can save a lot of headache (and possibly your life) later on.

2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces

This second principle is the most applicable to photographers, who have a nasty reputation for stepping where they shouldn’t to get a photo. I’m even guilty of it- when that light is hitting perfectly and you realize the composition would be 10x better if you hopped over the fence… Oof. It can be hard not too.

But to counter this feeling, I make it a point to understand the context of where I’m at. If you’re in a famous National Park that gets thousands of visitors each year, it’s not a good look to break the rules- especially because you could be damaging the land that many people will be traveling long ways to see. (And you could be heavily fined if a park ranger spots you!)

However, if you’re 10 miles deep into a hike in a remote region, where yearly foot traffic is minimal- stepping on a flower or two to get a photo isn’t going to harm anything. It’s all about context.

Personally, I also try to stay on rocks in areas where I know the plants are especially sensitive- like tundra grass, for example. These little things can take decades to grow, and be destroyed in seconds.

I also like to keep an eye out for game trails, which are little paths animals use to hunt. Following these can help reinforce existing trails, instead of creating new ones. Again, if you’re in the middle of nowhere, it’s not a big deal to veer off the path. But in general, I try to stay on existing trails, especially if I’m in a popular area.

3. Dispose of Waste Properly

This one should go without saying. Don’t leave trash around.

If I’m planning on eating or drinking during a hike, I bring a plastic bag to throw the trash in for the hike back. Then I throw it in my backpack. This bag helps prevent the food/drink from leaking into your hiking bag. 

It’s a super easy principle. Bring it in, bring it out. Done.

4. Leave What You Find

This one’s a little tricky. Say, for example, you stumble upon a beach covered in thousands of beautiful seashells. It can be tempting to take one for the road, or even as a gift for friends or family back home.. 

But again, the context here is important. If you’re in the middle of nowhere, I don’t see how taking a souvenir is a problem. But if you’re at a popular flower patch that only blooms once a year, maybe don’t pick the flower. If everyone took one, the place would be bare.

The nice thing about being photographers is that you can take a photo of something instead of taking it physically- plus it’s less weight to carry for the hike back. 

5. Minimize Campfire Impacts

If you’re camping in an area with high fire danger, this principle states that you shouldn’t make campfires. You can check for fire restrictions by going online and searching for local fire bans, or by calling your neighborhood fire department. 

Although fires can feel easy to control, especially if you have a lot of water on hand, they can get out of hand. All it takes is one stray ember cause millions of dollars in damage, and put countless lives at risk.

And honestly, cooking with a campfire is over-rated. It’s almost always more difficult than using a portable stove, and you have significantly less options.

6. Respect Wildlife

I mean, this principle should be obvious. But then again, maybe not. Approaching wild animals can be incredibly dangerous. Don’t get close to that buffalo, baby bear, or even that scared deer for a photo- most of these animals (or their mothers) could ruin your life in minutes.

This also applies to animals that can’t hurt you. Cameras have zoom lenses for a reason, and the compression from these lenses makes for a much better shot than an up-close shot with a wide-angle lens. Why risk it for a photo that’s gonna be worse off anyway?

One topic that’s also worth mentioning is the idea of baiting animals with food, for a photo. This practice is generally frowned upon in the nature photography community, namely because it can make the animals more reliant upon humans. It also disrupts the integrity of the shot- did you really get that shot of a cougar staring you down? Or did you bait it with a tasty tread?

The impact of a drone is also something to be self-aware of when out exploring. I try to avoid flying them in areas with a heavy bird presence, as it can disrupt their nesting patterns- usually you’ll see signs if this is an issue. The loud noise can also scare land animals into doing unpredictable things, which is something to keep in mind if you’re flying close to the ground.

7. Be Considerate of Others

This one is more about people than the environment itself, but it’s worth mentioning. Most people go into nature to remove themselves from society, so walking around and being inconsiderate by blasting music, shouting, or being a general nuisance can be seen as disrespectful.

This can leak into photography because getting certain photos can affect other people’s experiences. I mentioned it in the Social Engineering tutorial, but it can help to start a conversation with people first, especially if you plan on doing something that can be seen as disruptive- like asking them to move, setting up a tripod in a crowd, or flying a drone. 

Building a little rapport can go a long way in getting people on your side before an issue arises. 

Conclusion

As a general rule of thumb, keep your surroundings in mind. Most of these rules are common sense, but they’re in place to make yours and everyone’s experience in nature more wholesome.

We’re all just trying to have fun out there. And with that, the Photography unit of this course is COMPLETE! Let’s jump into the next tutorial, where I’m going to give you a proper send off!