I am fortunate to live close to a beautiful urban park and woodland and it is where I go to do most of my photography. In this location I have done woodland photography in all seasons, I have discovered a love for macro and found great subjects for ICM photography. I have been to this park for early morning light and to catch a sunset. I have taken photos of wide vistas and of small, intimate scenes. I have photographed a range of subjects through all seasons including people, ancient trees, flowing waterfalls, graceful swans, colourful plants and tiny insects. Marlay Park is a vast, secluded location where there is always something to photograph and where the sights and sounds of nature are your constant companions. Displayed below are some of my recent images.   Do you have a go-to place for daily photography?

I spent a few hours in this small village on the south coast of Ireland. I had my Olympus OM-D E-M 10 ii and one lens so I made the best of the limited choice. Here are some images from my visit. These are not necessarily images that I will keep but I did enjoy wandering around this coastal village, camera in hand, and making images of anything that caught my attention.

As part of my desire to explore all types of photography I experimented with street and urban photography, and I soon discovered a strong interest in these genres. Yet despite this interest I continued to shy away from photographing at big events such as carnivals, festivals or street parades. My belief was that it would be difficult to single out interesting images during the confusion of such events. But I was wrong in my thinking, and as I took tentative steps towards photographing at large events I realised that they provide a wealth of photographic opportunities, and that if you apply some of the normal tips for getting good photographs you can get some decent results as well as having a very enjoyable experience. Here are my 7 tips for creating better images at street events. 1. TRY TO CAPTURE THE REAL ESSENCE OF THE EVENT   Consider the type of event that is taking place by asking yourself: What is the purpose of the event and how is that portrayed by the participants? Is it a fun event or a serious protest? Is it a formal parade or a community gathering? How is the purpose of the event conveyed to the audience? Try to convey that same sense of purpose through your photographs. While a protest event may not have many light-hearted moments, a community event will usually have many examples of people having fun, enjoying the entertainment and sampling the variety of events on offer. 2. LOOK OUT FOR THINGS THAT CATCH YOUR EYE AMONG ALL THE ACTIVITY You won’t be able to capture every moment of a big event. They often last for hours and consist of many diverse activities. However, you can look for moments that speak to you and try to create your own set of images that represent the event for you. 3. LOOK FOR EMOTION   Whatever type of event it may be, there will be a range of emotion on display on the faces of the people attending. There may be awe and appreciation for what they see, expressions of solidarity at a serious event or joy at a fun event. Try to capture a range of these emotions in your images - a smile, a look passing between two people, a gesture, interaction between people, and so on. These fleeting moments may not be captured in quite the same way by anyone else so you will have your own unique images of the day. 4. CAPTURE SOME STREET PORTRAITS Street portraits, that is photographs that are posed rather than candid, are easy to capture at street events, particularly if the event has a carnival atmosphere. Most of the participants will be happy to pose for photographs and they will often provide you with wonderful colourful subjects. Unfortunately, sometimes many cameras compete for attention! 5. GET AS CLOSE AS YOU CAN As I mentioned in the last point, participants at street events expect to have their photographs taken so these events are an ideal opportunity to get closer to your subjects than you might normally do. Why not seize the opportunity to get great close-up images! 6. SCAN THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE EVENT FOR INTEREST Big events are often surrounded by peripheral activities which can provide extra opportunities for catching a unique moment. There might be a food market, children’s activities and other ‘fringe’ events worth exploring. Sometimes preparations before, or the aftermath of the main event, can be worth observing to see if anything of interest emerges. And finally... 7. TELL THE STORY OF THE EVENT THROUGH THE MOMENTS YOU CHOOSE TO DOCUMENT Stories are everywhere at big events, all you have to do is be observant and alert to all that is unfolding around you. Capture small, fleeting moments that no-one else notices. Capture people immersed in what they are doing; capture their costumes, activities and interactions. Capture interesting movements, gestures or expressions that won’t be repeated. These things are what tell the story of the event. They show involvement and emotion and are completely candid and unrehearsed. By carefully choosing to capture a mix of formal and informal moments you can build a complete picture of an event as well as immersing yourself in the diversity of activities, sampling the excellent food and enjoying a day of photography. *** I took the images above at the annual celebration of the founding of the city of Vila Real de Santo Antonio, Portugal. Vila Real de Santo Antonio was a new settlement commissioned by Joseph 1 of Portugal in 1776 following the great earthquake of 1755. Residents are preparing to celebrate the 250th anniversary of their city in 2026! This year marked 248 years since the building of the city. A parade of local people in period costume opened a week long historical festival comprising of music, dance, drama, street games, roasting pig, street vendors and artists. The city produced a week of culture, colour and celebration as the streets came alive with re-enactments of life in 1776. It was a special holiday bonus to be a visitor for this wonderful celebration.

On my photography walks I frequently have Shoot What You See sessions where I literally shoot whatever captures my attention. I don’t aim for Instagram worthy images or for subjects that might appeal to others. I simply take pictures that I want to take, and I enjoy taking them.  Doing regular  Shoot What You See sessions has several advantages.   Firstly, they give you a great sense of freedom to do what you want to do, and to learn more about yourself as a photographer. Free from expectations, either from yourself or others, you can experiment, discover what you like, and play around with different compositions and styles of photography.  Secondly, the images you capture will not necessarily be images that you will show to others (although they might be!) but you won’t always delete the images either. As mentioned above, there may be images that will help you learn about yourself as a photographer; about the subjects you like to shoot, the focal lengths you prefer and the conditions that best suit your photography.  There may be images that you can work with in an editing program to help you refine your editing skills, or there may be images that you will save to a folder that can be revisited at a later stage when you may even discover a hidden gem!  A third advantage of doing regular Shoot What You See sessions is that you will begin to see images where you may not normally see them and you will begin to capture subjects that you would normally ignore. You can be as creative as you like as you are only pleasing yourself.  *** I recently engaged in two Shoot What You See  sessions. The first session was on a bright morning in my neighbourhood, the second was during a short break in a small coastal village. Here are some images from the two sessions with comments on why they caught my attention. I like the way the light behaves in these scenes. I think it turns a regular suburban street into something worth photographing. I came across this communal greenhouse on the edge of a housing estate. I like the idea so I took a photograph. The bright primary colours caught my attention here, as well as the contrast between light and shadow on the left of the scene. A simple image of a branch but the shape stood out for me against the green of the hedge. I just couldn't ignore this subject, especially because of how it was lit by the early morning sun. I am often drawn to shadows on walls. I like the abstract nature of the images they create. This is an image taken on while on holiday. I went for a walk with the intention of capturing anything that caught my attention. In this case it was the boy sitting in the sand. I think that the image is balanced by the people in the water who are placed at a diagonal from the boy's position. I also think the image conveys a strong story. I tend to be drawn to examples of natural framing. I usually find that there are a few examples of these from every outing. This is another image from my holiday walkabout. The image is nothing special but I tend to photograph fishermen's ropes whenever I see them. They provide a good visual example of human activity in a coastal area. Also, I like to look back on these images and be reminded of summer days. I am particularly drawn to taking photographs of huts, sheds and all kinds of interesting structures. I think the wooden shelter makes a nice foreground in this coastal image. Shooting What You See helps you to learn and improve your photography skills but it is mostly about freedom and enjoyment. Why not take your camera and try it for yourself?

As I mentioned in a recent post , I like to do a daily walk with my camera. This is not just for photography reasons; it's also because getting out frequently with my camera has enormous benefits for my physical and mental wellbeing. However, I do like to take some photos when I’m out. After all, this is why I take a camera along. The difficulty is that I have become very familiar with my local surroundings so I can struggle to find something to photograph. To combat this, I have recently tried a new approach. As well as my usual subjects I have been taking photos of subjects that I might normally have passed without noticing. I have been looking for images in places that I might otherwise have dismissed, or I have tried to find interest or even beauty in the mundane and ordinary. On my morning walks with my camera I look for small scenes and challenge myself to look more deeply and observe. Sometimes I have attempted to make some abstract images, although I need a lot of practice to get something worthwhile. I don’t want to take pictures for the sake of taking pictures. I want to enjoy taking pictures. I want to be inspired by the subjects I find, or by the light, or by shapes and patterns. I want to take pictures of subjects and scenes that challenge me to discover them, subjects that others may not bother with but which speak to me in some way. Taking an approach like this has given my photography a new impetus and I am discovering that there are photographs to be found everywhere. I just have to be open to looking more closely and allowing these hidden gems to reveal themselves to me.   Photography is not about looking for 'Instagramable' images, nor is it about being overly influenced by others and only taking images of popular or common subjects. After all, it's hard to get an original sunrise! No, photography is about enjoying the journey, following your own unique path, finding and capturing images that catch your attention and spark your interest. The images above will not win any photography awards but they are the result of many hours of enjoyable time with my camera discovering my own hidden gems. What about heading out and having fun discovering your own hidden gems?

I have just arrived home from a morning walk in my local park/woodland on a crisp, dry November morning. I brought my camera with me and took a few photographs. I didn’t do any chimping, so I don’t know if the images are any good. But that doesn’t really matter as I was involved in the process of photography and I had a great time on my photography shoot. The title of this blog, Is Process or Product More Important in Photography? asks a question which might have a different answer depending on the type of photographer you ask. A professional photographer who depends on good results to make a living will undoubtedly say product is most important, but for those of us who are amateur photographers the answer might not be as simple. Sure, we will want to see success in our photography in terms of good images, otherwise we may become disheartened and believe that we are not good enough. But do we need good images every time we go out with our camera? Could we measure success in another way? On my morning outing I stopped in a part of the woods that I had scouted on a previous occasion with my phone camera. Google Pixel 7 Pro Nikon D5600 I enjoyed looking for a strong subject, finding the best position from which to shoot based on light and composition, adjusting my camera settings, and capturing multiple images in a small area. While there, I got to listen to bird song, see the early morning sun stream through the trees, admire the vibrant autumn colours and feel the chilly air of an early November morning. I had an opportunity to get some exercise, to find solitude surrounded by the beauty of nature and to clear my head before the busy day began. I felt grateful to be alive and privileged to be able to enjoy the abundance of nature. On my walk home I thought about the hour I had just spent and I had no doubts that for me process is what is most important in photography as it involves so much more than just coming home with a good image. For me, photography is an antidote to the stress and pressures of life. Photography is about enjoyment, relaxation, and being creative. It’s about being out in nature, capturing what draws my eye, connecting with people or the natural world around me. Next time you go out with your camera ask yourself whether process or product is more important in your photography. And if the final product is what is most important you might try prioritising the process to see if that brings more enjoyment. When I finally looked at my images I was pleased with some of them. And the others? As always, they provided me with new learning experiences! Is process or product more important in photography? What do you think? You might like to check out this video Why Process Beats Results in Street Photography by street photographer Tim Jamieson in which he discusses a similar theme.

What is the true purpose behind my passion for photography? In my view, it goes without saying that photography is not just about capturing a moment in time. It is also about all the moments that come before that moment in time and all the moments that come after it, as well as all the moments that surround it. It encompasses all the planning, walking, observing, questioning, considering, wondering and deciding that go into the capture of just one image. Photography is a journey – a creative process of learning, discovery, experimentation, challenge and achievement. Photography provides an opportunity to be fully present in each moment, to be absorbed and motivated. Photography offers a time to escape from the stresses of everyday life and to create something precious. Photography engages our senses and supports our physical, mental and emotional health. Photography is creative, challenging and enjoyable. It is for these reasons that I do photography; they explain the true purpose behind my passion for photography. I have written several posts on why I believe that photography supports our physical, mental and emotional/spiritual health. I have linked them below. Recently I watched this video from Distant Media Photography, the YouTube channel of a photographer based in the UK. The sentiments of the video resonate with me and the visual media adds something extra that the written word misses. I’d like to share this video with you. I hope you enjoy it. The Soul of Why I Do Photography Distant Media Photography

“For whatever we lose (like a you or a me) It’s always our self we find in the sea.” — e.e.cummings I love the sea. I have always found that walking by the sea is a way to attain a sense of serenity and perspective. Listening to the crashing sound of waves as they break, followed by their gentle lap onto the shore, is a form of mental therapy that I have come to appreciate. Being by the sea gives me a chance to breathe more deeply, to momentarily let go of worries and to get a sense that all is well in this moment. I’ve always been drawn to water. As a child, my favourite place-to-be was at a small river near my home, paddling my way through the water or sitting by the bubbling stream enjoying the peace and quiet. As an adult, when I am attempting to process an issue in my mind, trying to make an important decision, trying to deal with problems or difficulties, or when I just want some ‘me time’, I still find myself heading for the nearest source of water for inspiration. Strolling along a bank or walkway by a flowing river, sitting by a lakeside or walking along by the coast watching the ebb and flow of the tide are always my go-to places. It comes as no surprise to me that my photography has led me to many different places where water can feature in my images, whether as main subject or background. I am lucky to live in a country which is surrounded by a fabulous and varied coastal landscape and which also has an abundance of inland waterways to explore and photograph. Water in landscape photography A look at the work of most landscape photographers will reveal a substantial number of water-related photographs. The most obvious reason for this is that a body of water in a photograph has the potential to add beauty to the scene in a way that is hard to beat and water can also enhance the beauty of the other elements around it. A sea, lake, river or waterfall will often act as a focal point in an image or as an interesting element in our composition and all of these water subjects can be captured from numerous different angles and perspectives or using a range of different camera settings, adding to the variety of possible images that can be produced. For close-up photos of coastal vegetation, the sea can provide a stunning backdrop. It can be the middle layer of a composition where there is foreground interest and sky above. Water can provide great reflection images and is good for long exposure photography. Without question, a sunrise or sunset over the sea or lake brings an added dimension to that scene. For close-up photos of coastal vegetation, the sea can provide a stunning backdrop Coastal photography Whether it is interesting rock formations, sea grasses blowing in the wind, the colours thrown up by the intermingling of sand and sea, or a nearby cliff face, there is always something interesting for the photographer near the coast. Bringing your camera to a coastal area gives countless opportunities to experiment with composition and interpretation of a scene. A beach with just sand and sea can be boring and end up being just half sea and half sand so we have to find some interesting feature on which to centre our image, or try an unusual perspective. The sea itself with its fascinating wave formations might provide our subject, and our images will benefit from the inclusion of rocks, seaweed on the shore, or the effect of the sun on the whole scene. As well as the bigger landscape, the coast also offers smaller opportunities for interesting shots, such as sea shells on the beach, footprints in the sand or small coastal flowers growing among the rocks. This jellyfish drew my attention on a recent visit to the coast: Other elements that can provide interest for our photos are: Boats – I love abandoned boats, or photographing parts of boats Piers Fences Vegetation Seaweed People Fishing objects Buildings – lighthouses are a favourite and we can get some interesting angles for shots As well as trying to find interesting features in your coastal landscapes you can vary the position from which you shoot in order to get a different perspective . Instead of shooting straight ahead you can get down low or shoot down from a high vantage point. Often, we shoot directly out to sea, but we can get interesting perspectives by looking up or looking down the coastline. Sometimes when I am walking along the coastline or climbing a cliff I am looking ahead for potential images, but it is always a good idea to turn around and see what is behind me. Often you will find a completely different scene with another set of possibilities just behind you. Foreground can become a main element. At the coast you will already have your background elements – sea and sky – so for variation you could concentrate on the foreground. If you make the foreground look interesting it has the potential to change a snapshot into a photograph. Many photographs taken straight on from a standing position will be good snapshots... But varying our perspective or composition can ensure that we produce more interesting photographs. Seascape photography I consider seascape photography to be different to coastal photography. A quick Google search gave me this definition of seascape photography: Seascape photography is a kind of landscape photography where one of the main subjects is the sea or the ocean. The main difference is the ever-moving water, which influences your picture and your settings. https://expertphotography.com I haven’t yet tried standing in the water to photograph waves or being so close that I have to consider what the tide is doing, but it sounds like an exciting form of photography and one that I definitely intend to try out at some stage. If seascape photography is something that interests you, this short video gives 5 tips you might like to think about before you begin. https://youtu.be/K26-SjwLWIU Inspirational water photography In many areas of life water plays a leading role as a source of inspiration and many ‘daily reflection’ or meditation type apps regularly feature images of sunsets over the sea, silky waterfalls, a gurgling stream or gently lapping waves. In fact, most water scenes evoke a mood of reflection and contemplation. ‘Life around water’ as photography subject As well as water offering itself as a subject for my photographs, I find that animal and plant life on or close to water, the effect of weather conditions or light playing on water, and signs of human activity around water also provide good photographic opportunities. Creating emotion through water images Water can evoke emotion in a photograph. The lack of colour on a wide expanse of water can create a feeling of loneliness. A person looking out to sea suggests contemplation. Water images can tell a story of strength, of power, of resistance; they can suggest infinity in time – the water will still be flowing long after we humans have passed on. Water can sometimes serve as a good background to a main subject and can help evoke a mood or emotion in this way. Capturing reflections Water makes a great vehicle for capturing reflections, whether from a calm lake on a clear day, a puddle after the rain or to enhance the lights of a city reflected in a river at night. “If there is magic on this planet, it is contained in water.” - Loren Eiseley Further reading For a comprehensive and knowledgeable guide to seascape photography, with tips on becoming a better seascape photographer, check out this post: https://www.landscapephotographyireland.com/blog/seascape-photography-explained Updated August 2024

Water is a great subject for creative photography. It lends itself to long exposure, intentional camera movement (ICM), water reflections, water droplets, and rain photography, without even mentioning sea water and all the possibilities that brings. For this gallery I have concentrated on creative use of long exposure and intentional camera movement. I have experimented with these techniques using both camera and phone, and although my results were hit and miss, I thoroughly enjoyed the process. Here are some of the resulting images: Image Gallery - Use of Water in Creative Photography Why not try some creative water photography? You can experiment with different shutter speeds, a variety of movements, and even use the long exposure setting on your phone. There is no right or wrong way to do creative water photography, there are no rules and you are the judge of whether the images turn out as you expected. Creative water photography is all about experimentation, discovering something new and having fun with your camera.

I love to go for a daily walk in my neighbourhood and I always bring my camera with me even if I don't end up taking a photograph. This is different to my two or three times weekly photoshoot, where I deliberately plan where to go and what type of photography I’ll do. This is a walk with my small camera, a wrist strap and one lens. My walk usually takes place in the early morning. I love this time, when the world is quiet and still, the birds are singing, dog walkers and early walkers and runners are the only humans to be seen, and the world hasn’t yet awakened to the working day. I love the crisp air in winter, the warmth and sweet aromas of summer, and everything in between. Even getting caught in a light rain shower can be invigorating. I am fortunate to have many walking routes and trails near my home. Just a ten minute walk from my home is a large park and woodland where I do a lot of photography. In addition to this park there are also paths around the suburb where I live, a small town centre close to my home, a riverbank walk and many local walking trails I can follow. The main purpose of my daily walk, as it is for many people, is exercise, but it gives me much more than physical exercise. My walking time is a time for myself. It is a time to slow my thoughts, to appreciate the world around me, to reflect on any ongoing issues in my life, and to put things into perspective. It is a time to enjoy solitude and to exercise my creative mind by observing what is around me and occasionally creating some images. This time is not about making great images – it is about capturing what catches my eye. It is about enjoying the limitations of just one lens and increasing my awareness of what is around me, both in the natural and in the human-made world. My daily walk has become an essential part of my day, a part of my day that I try not to miss, and by taking a camera with me it has become an even more special time. Here are some images from a week of daily walks with my camera:

I previously wrote a blog post about the value of curiosity to our mental health and how photography can help us enhance that curiosity. You can view that post here. In this post I will discuss the topic from another viewpoint - that is, how curiosity in turn adds value to photography and why it’s good to follow your curiosity in photography. Following your curiosity in photography: PROVIDES YOU WITH NEW AND UNEXPECTED PHOTOGRAPHIC OPPORTUNITIES Curiosity continually opens up new worlds and possibilities. Being curious helps us to discover things that are not immediately obvious or visible. By following our curiosity in photography we will open ourselves to new photographic opportunities, we will begin to discover that we like certain subjects that we previously didn't notice or disregarded, and we will realise that there is a world of photographic opportunity waiting for us that we didn't know existed. To give an example, I had a vague sense of being drawn to photographing old abandoned buildings and sheds but until recently I hadn't acted on the urge. Once I began to make some of these type of images I started to follow my curiosity and this has led me to a new set of subjects that I really enjoy photographing. ENCOURAGES YOU TO KEEP LEARNING NEW SKILLS Curiosity keeps your mind active, always asking questions, seeking new ways of doing things, searching for solutions to challenges. To give an example, in my photography I have been curious about discovering the effect of using different shutter speeds so I have experimented with various slow shutter speeds and combining them with a range of focal lengths. I have achieved some reasonable results which I like but I have also discovered that to do long exposure photography properly I will need to invest in a tripod. In a similar way my curiosity about depth of field has led me to experimenting with aperture and distance from subject. This has given me new skills to employ when doing close up and macro photography. When we are curious we keep trying new things, and new ways of doing familiar things, and we are continually led down new learning paths. ALLOWS YOU TO DO PHOTOGRAPHY YOUR WAY When you follow your curiosity you are in charge of the things you photograph and share. You can photograph subjects simply as experiments, because you want to, or you can allow your curiosity in photography to take you in lots of different directions, propelled forward by your desire to discover new things, to take on new ideas and to see photography as something that is fun for you, not something that is dictated by the opinions of others. To give an example, I have followed my curiosity into macro photography. Despite not having proper macro equipment I have compromised and improvised by using magnifying lenses, a Raynox diopter and an inexpensive macro lens. My curiosity and open mind regarding this type of photography has, despite many frustrations, given me countless hours of very enjoyable photography. FINAL THOUGHTS There is much research into the benefits of having a curious mind. Curiosity has been the driving force behind some of the world's best inventions, scientific discoveries and creative works. It is certainly an important value to foster in our lives. By being curious, always asking questions and seeking answers, we can live more purposeful, fulfilling lives. When we apply a mind-set of active curiosity to our photography we set ourselves free to experiment, to grow, to continually feel motivated and to enjoy all that our craft has to offer. Why not go out with your camera and just follow your curiosity!

I think there is an onus on all of us who do photography to practise our craft in a responsible way. Any discussion of street photography or documentary photography will almost certainly include the ethics involved in those types of photography, such as not photographing vulnerable people or not taking images of minors without a parent or guardian’s permission. Ethics around landscape photography are not given as much thought, or worse, the attitude is, anything goes in the pursuit of a good photograph . While this is most definitely not the case, it is largely left up to each photographer to take care of the environment in which they are working, and inevitably some are more careful than others. As part of my work in education I have always felt passionate about enabling children and young people to be custodians of the future, and part of this involved education in caring for the environment in which we live. I undertook environmental awareness training and, with my students, participated in many projects aimed at raising awareness of the many human activities that detrimentally affect our environment, and how we can live more sustainably. As a photographer I am aware of the damage that is being done to some of our most beautiful locations by lone photographers, groups of photographers and those with phone cameras who all want to capture that perfect photograph. Flowers and young plants are being trampled, parts of plants are being broken off and discarded because they are ‘getting in the way’ of the photograph, and paths are being created through green spaces to provide a short cut to a location. And that is without mentioning the litter being left at beauty spots! Protecting our environment and ensuring that our behaviour contributes to its sustainability involves raising awareness in any way that we can, which is why I am prompted to share this website, www.naturefirst.org , which addresses this issue with photographers in mind and gives guidance on how to be a responsible photographer. To quote from the website: No one can be “perfect,” reducing their impact to zero, but we can all be mindful and responsible with our nature photography. It’s simply the ethical thing to do. While recognising that historically photography has played a role in environmental protection, concerns are being raised about current trends of over-visitation of some of the world’s most renowned beauty spots, largely due to social media sharing, and of a widespread basic lack of knowledge of ‘outdoor ethics’. I love to experiment with close-up flower photography and am always saddened when the beauty of the flowers is spoiled by discarded litter which often blows into the flower beds. Nature First has produced a set of core principles designed to help photographers to enjoy photography in the natural landscape while also behaving responsibly towards the environment. What are the Nature First Principles? The 7 Nature First Principles are: Prioritize the well-being of nature over photography. Educate yourself about the places you photograph. Reflect on the possible impact of your actions. Use discretion if sharing locations. Know and follow rules and regulations. Always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them. Actively promote and educate others about these principles.   You can read about these principles in depth here .   You can read about how these principles apply to smartphone users here .   The principles are easy to remember and should become second nature to all photographers. In particular, it is important to actively promote these principles and to educate others about them so that we reverse the trend of contributing, as photographers, to increased negative impact on our natural environment.   National Parks are popular places for photography but it is essential that photographers abide by the common principles of environmental protection. One of the 7 principles of Nature First is to use discretion if sharing locations, particularly on social media platforms, as increased visitation can have a negative impact on sensitive areas. Another of the principles,  always follow Leave No Trace principles and strive to leave places better than you found them , expands into a further 7 principles which are 'minimum impact practices' for anyone frequenting the outdoors and they form a set of practical ways to make a difference as photographers. As well as leaving no litter, the principles also urge us not to create paths where no paths exist, not to trample on flowers or plants to get a photograph, in other words to leave everything as we found it, and to take away everything that we bring with us. The principles also encourage us to leave places better then we found them by picking up litter even if it doesn’t belong to us. Areas such as wildflower fields are 'seasonally sensitive'. On her first visit to a bluebell woods my 3½-year-old granddaughter was tempted to run through the bluebells, but she was happy to comply when we explained to her why she needed to use the path that was already there. If environmental awareness begins at a young age children are more likely to grow up with a genuine respect and care for nature. I hope that reading this blog on how to be a responsible photographer will encourage you to visit the nature first website, familiarise yourself with the principles outlined and encourage others to adopt them also. FURTHER RESOURCES Sarah Marino & Ron Coscorrosa Photography ( smallscenes.com ) Landscape Photography Ethics - Are you a good ambassador? Alister Benn 'In nature, everybody is an influencer' - Nature First https://youtu.be/F70bRuu9TAY