In
my opinion, absolute respect for wildlife must guide every activity
we enjoy. Our involvement to it must be subtle, intuitive, kind.
So, most of the ethic codes we have in our photographic and ecologist
circles show basic and obvious positions.
Respect
to life and living subjects must prevail. We have to be sensitive
to the beings we share the planet with and which have as much
rights as we to stay here. Ethic is a personal position and we
must be absolutely convinced of what we are doing: nobody should
tell us if what we are doing is right or wrong, specially in this
world in wich economical interests are often put above respect
for the nature. But personal positions are important as they are
to be against some others that surpass our capability.
I
think our ethical positions must be mature, intelligent, but firmly
sustented in our own facts. We are part of nature, one more species
interacting at predating, disturbing, managing levels. But our
perception of this reality is bigger than is in the rest of the
living beings, and so is our technological power to transform
the habitats. So we must be responsible and take care of the world
around us.
Aefona,
the association of wildlife photographers in Spain has an ethic
code resumed in 15 points, which counts with the support of organisms
as WWF, Greenpeace, Seo/Bridlife, Coda and Apia:
1.-
Subject security and conservation of its habitat are always more
important than obtaining a photograph.
2.-
The more you know about your subject the more possibilities you
have to photograph it without disturbances.
3.-
Obtain as much permissions as necessary to photograph natural
subjects or places, also to the owners of the land. Respect people
living and working in natural settlements.
4.-
To photograph wild animals is pereferrable to do it with wild
subjects in its natural habitat, without altering its natural
behaviour. Try to prevent birds nesting, or with chicks specially
in bad weather conditions (cold, rain, direct sun...). Be sensible.
5.-
Try not to take an animal out of the natural environment to be
photographed in captivity conditions. Those specimens exceptionally
taken must be returned to their original habitat, without damage
and as soon as possible. Never catch a law protected species without
permission.
6.-
To photograph wildflowers do it preferrable in the countryside.
Try not to cut the flowers. Never do that to protected species.
7.-
Always inform if a picture has been taken under controlled conditions.
Photographing in Zoos or similar often do not disturb endangered
animals.
8.-
Prevent cutting branches or plants to camouflage the hide. Use
camouflage nets or dead vegetation.
9.-
If you manipulate the vegetation around a nest, try to restore
it at the end. Tie better than cut branches and never leave a
nest exposed to predators, people or climate conditions (sun,
rain, cold...).
10.-
Do not manipulate mineral or archaeological elements if it will
cause a lost or damage of a formation.
11.-
As you photograph try not to attract people or predators attention.
Do not reveal the location of a rare species, but to credited
scientists and organizations wich contribute to their welfare.
12.-
Keep clean the place you are photograophing in, and take away
rubbish or any rest of your being there.
13.-
Wildlife photographer working in foreign countries must act with
the same care as if being in his own country.
14.-
Inform the authorities of any infringement or damage to nature,
including irresponsible acts of other photographers.
15.-
Colaborate with other companions to photograph better in wildlife,
and share this ethical code between all thoso whose don´t
know about this.
As
you see, these rules are to be understood as merely basics. Respect
all wildlife beings, and don´t distiguish if they are rare
or not. They have the same right to life, and not to be disturbed
or stressed.
