Rodney O wrote:
Maybe this is a decent time to mention this:
Can we improve the \"education\" and knowledge level of people who are starting to get into wildlife photography? And thereby \"nip some of the problems\" before they become ingrained as habits? The thought is that if a person learns the good way of doing wildlife photos, they will be less or might be less likely to contribute to these problems.
I find that there seem to be few, if any, good places for newcomers to wildlife photography to get good information on how to do wildlife photography and what is acceptable practice. There are pages about aspects of \"ethics\", and the occasional how to photograph specific subjects. But not an overview with details for the beginner who is just getting outdoors or has just gotten a new lens. While it may be a bit overly optimistic, I think we stand a chance to decrease some bad photographer behavior if there were a good \"beginners guide\" for new comers. it should include, info on how to shoot good shots, how to respect critters & what is disrespectful and dangerous to the critters, the importance of understanding \"local etiquette\", etc.
I would guess that each of us sees inappropriate behavior and actions on occasion. Some of us are hesitant to say anything. Some of us are not. So how often do you intervene to stop a problem and how often do you just walk on?
It\'s not all that easy to successfully deal with people in situations like that. One way to improve things might seem to be to be able to refer people to a web site or even a couple of web pages that address these issues?
If they are learning something that helps them take better pictures, maybe they will also learn how to be a better \"citizen of the wild\", so to speak.
Rodney
Rodney, your post and every post in this thread is educational. It seems like yesterday (2007) when I first started photographing wildlife and posting my shots on this web site. The first couple of years I would post shots taken in either my back yard or from some other site. My shots would have branches in the way and for a few exceptions looked like KAKA. But, I worked hard to get them. I still do. I would look at what others had posted here and say to myself \"how did they do it.\" It didn\'t take long to figure out environments were being staged, baiting of raptors was occurring or photographers were taking weekend seminars to photograph captive/trained raptors. They leap from here and land over there. Pretty cool, I was tempted in the early days.
The beginners photography guide of ethics is here in this thread.
IMO, most of those who post here regularly do not want to be involved in this discussion. I have read on other internet sites where photographers, in their own posts explained how a shot happened. They were in a blind and had a carcass of a deer waiting for a golden eagle to appear. God forbid the day I see a photographer baiting bald eagles.
The fundamentals of wildlife photography takes years to perfect. Then it takes years to learn the behavior of what you are shooting. Mastering both of these makes for great pictures. Most importantly, respect the environment. Don\'t sling a fish in water or lay a carcass out just to get the shot. Much to easy.
Ted
Feb 04, 2013 at 05:28 PM
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