When photographing other living things one should always keep in mind the rule "do no harm", and not hunt for the perfect photograph at any cost. I've collected here a few more specific points to consider when observing and photographing nature, be it landscapes, wildlife or anything else.

-When photographing wildlife do your research before leaving home. Make sure you know when to be extra-careful about interfering with the animals' lives, and how close you can safely go without bringing any harm to the species in question, or to yourself for that matter. The longer lens you have, the better. A guideline minimum for nature photographers is 400mm.

-When photographing in National Parks and other nature reserve areas, make sure you know all their rules before entering the area. Stay on designated paths and make sure you don't damage the protected flowers and plants. This applies outside nature reserve areas as well.

-Leave nesting birds alone.

-No littering; this should be common sense, but is forgotten by too many people. Take back everything you bring with you.

-Do not feed wild animals.


Nature offers us endless beauty and wonders, and sharing this through photography is a good thing as long as you remember to do everything you can to make sure future generations can enjoy the beauty too, and not only as a memory in a photograph.



A few useful links:

Nature Photography Ethics

Empathy for Other Species

Nature Photography Ethics in the Field

Ethics In Nature Photography by Dan Suzio