Whether you own a camera or not; whether you’re a professional or amateur photographer, or you just like to take photos when you’re out with your cell phone; my latest podcast is relevant to you. I’m talking with two of the co-founders of Nature First -- well known photographers from Colorado – Erik Stensland and Scott Bacon. Nature First was launched in 2019 due to concerns about the growing impact photographers – of all skill levels -- were having on the environment. Nature First is a global organization with over 5,000 members from 72 countries who have formed an alliance that promotes the protection and preservation of the world's natural and wild places through inspiring, educating, and uniting everyone that takes photographs and videos in nature; empowering them to be ambassadors of the natural world.

Here's what we talked about. Listen now (episode now archived!)

• What led you to create Nature First?

• Tell us about the most surprising thing you’ve personally witnessed regarding photographers causing harm to the natural environment.

• Is there a common question you frequently get asked about Nature First?

• Let’s talk numbers and impact. How do you determine how you’re doing on the goals for Nature First?

• The Leave No Trace program identifies something called “Hot Spots”, which are natural areas “suffering from severe human impacts” (https://lnt.org/our-work/protecting-parks/hot-spots/).This looks like a potential tool people could use to help educate themselves about the places they photograph. What are the tools, or resources, Nature First has identified for people to educate themselves about the places they photograph?

• The two founding members of Nature First are both long-time photographers in Colorado. Have you developed Nature First resources for photography in Colorado?  For example, a list of “hot spots”, or areas in Colorado that experience a lot of human visitors and may be vulnerable to stress or damage?

• What are the most useful resources that help you be an ethical nature photographer?

• As we wrap up, what else should we know about Nature First?

Please visit Nature First’s website www.naturefirst.org to learn more about Nature First important principles, make a donation, or join the organization. Nature First is also on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and LinkedIn.

Sources and More Information:

https://www.copperrangellc.com/blog/2021/10/it-takes-all-of-us

https://lnt.org/why/7-principles/