ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION

MAKE A DIFFERENCE WITH YOUR PHOTOGRAPHS

I am a photographer and an environmentalist. My passion for each developed when I was in college at the University of Colorado in the 1970s. Colleges were just beginning to offer degrees in environmental studies, and I wanted to learn more about nature, natural resources, and conservation. I was browsing the CU catalog and found courses such as Dynamics of Mountain Ecosystems, Environmental Physics, Politics of Natural Resources, and Plant Ecology. When I found out I could take these courses while working toward an Environmental Conservation degree, I quickly switched out of my pursuit of a Political Science degree.

Soon after graduation, I moved to Yosemite for a job with the National Park Service. Since that time way back in 1977, I have been exploring the park. As my Yosemite portfolio developed, I dreamt of publishing a book of my photographs, a dream that came true in 1994 with Yosemite: The Promise of Wildness, co-authored with environmental writer Tim Palmer. Besides featuring my images, Tim’s text delivers an impassioned plea for preserving Yosemite as a natural treasure and protecting the park from development and overuse. The book was greatly satisfying since it combines my efforts to capture the essence of Yosemite with Tim’s thought-provoking writing regarding the conservation issues the parks faced then, and still face today.

The reason I mention this personal history is that I want encourage readers with ambitions of becoming nature photographers. The world needs more photographers with strong environmental and natural history backgrounds. Although I never held an environment-related job, my education has greatly enriched my understanding of nature. Though I wish I could say otherwise, I am not much of an activist, preferring a somewhat reclusive life here in the Sierra Nevada foothills near Yosemite. Still, I feel that my education informs my images and that my art has had an impact on people’s appreciation of, and desire to protect, the natural world.

There are many examples of environmental photographers making highly artistic imagery while also affecting important change to protect our Earth: John Weller, Robert Glen Ketchum, James Balog, Shawn Heinricks, Frans Lanting, Jack Dykinga, Jim Bradenburg, Boyd Norton, and Art Wolfe, to name but a few. Ansel Adams was a mentor in that regard for many photographers concerned with preserving wild lands and creatures. Organizations such as the North American Nature Photographers Association and the International League of Conservation Photographers are providing funding and forums for project-minded photographers wishing to make a difference in the world.

My focus has been on creating images that reflect the magic, mystery, and spirituality I see in all of nature, whether in my backyard garden or the epic cliffs of Yosemite Valley. At the core of developing a sense of environmental responsibility is a desire to communicate your deepest feelings about nature, and in doing so, encourage others to act with respect and love for the natural beauty that surrounds us every day. There are many ways to make a powerful impact with your images. Which path will you take? Will you make a difference?

Morning Mist at Dawn | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California | 2016

Black Oaks and Cathedral Rocks | Yosemite Valley, Yosemite National Park, California | 1984