Leave no trace for photographers: protecting the places you photograph

TUREFF• •0

Photographers have a particular effect on the places they visit. A single image of a quiet meadow or a hidden pool can bring thousands of visitors, and the search for a fresh angle leads people off paths and over fences. The Leave No Trace principles were written for everyone outdoors, and the hiking room covers them in general. This guide applies them to the things photographers in particular do.

The seven principles

The Leave No Trace Center for Outdoor Ethics sets out 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.

Plan ahead

Know the rules before you arrive. Many parks and reserves have rules on drones, tripods, commercial shoots, closing times or seasonal closures for nesting birds. Some require a permit for filming.
Have a backup location so that a crowded or closed spot does not tempt you onto a fragile one.
Go outside peak times where possible; sunrise is quieter than sunset at most popular viewpoints.

Stay on durable ground

This is where photographers do most damage.

Stay on paths, rock, gravel or dry grass. Flower fields, moss, dunes, wetlands and fragile soils take years to recover from trampling.
Do not step into a flower field for a better angle. Once one person does, a path forms, and others follow it. Use a longer lens or a higher viewpoint instead.
Place your tripod on durable surfaces too, and avoid digging its legs into moss or lichen.
Respect fences and closures. They are often there because the ground has already been damaged or is unsafe.

Leave what you find

Do not move, pick or arrange flowers, stones, shells or branches to improve a composition. Rearranging a scene changes habitat and the experience for the next visitor.
Do not build stone stacks, carve marks or leave anything behind.
Pack out everything, including lens wipes, filter cases, batteries and food wrappers.

Wildlife comes first

Keep your distance. If an animal changes its behaviour because of you, such as stopping feeding or watching you, you are too close.
Use a long lens rather than approaching.
Never feed wildlife or use food as bait to get a picture.
Keep away from nests and dens, and avoid lingering in breeding season. The birdwatching room has a guide on bird photography ethics.
Fly drones responsibly and well away from wildlife and nesting cliffs, following local rules.

Fires and light

Many popular photo spots ban fires; check before you go and use a stove only where allowed. For night shoots, keep lights low and pointed down, and avoid painting landscapes with bright torches where others are trying to observe the sky.

Be considerate of others

Share popular viewpoints. Do not block a path or railing for long periods.
Keep tripods out of walkways.
Ask before photographing people in a way that makes them the subject.
Keep noise down, especially at dawn and at night.

Think about what you share

Social media changes places. Consider these choices before posting:

Share the region rather than the exact spot for fragile or sensitive places.
Turn off automatic geotagging if you do not want precise coordinates attached.
Do not post photographs that show rule-breaking, such as standing past a barrier, as an example to follow.
Mention good practice in captions, such as staying on the path or visiting outside busy times.

Have you seen a favourite location change because of photographers? Share your experience in the comments.