Respect Wildlife, When Taking Photographs

Lee Frost – this is a dragonfly

If you adore wildlife, then it pays not to encourage creatures to start feeding from your garden, or throwing bread to swans (encouraging them to come near dogs). Feeding seagulls steers them away from the sea, and near road traffic and litter.

Never disturb any wild birds or creatures (nor use flash photography). Stay well away and use a zoom lens. If the creature is looking at you, you’re too close. 

• Never get too close to wildlife. Nor use magnifying glasses (these can ‘cook’ creatures). Instead, use a good pair of binoculars, to view from afar.
• Animals don’t run on our schedules. They prefer moving when humans are quiet. That’s a good indication that they prefer you not to disturb them.
• Wildlife will vanish if you stand out or make noise. So wear dull, green or brown shades, and wear sturdy shoes.
• At the seaside, the best way to help native seals and other creatures, is to leave them alone. Spooking such creatures can cause seal pups to drown, or parents to abandon.
• Use zoom lenses (avoid noise and flash photography, which can kill some creatures).
• Never do anything to stress any creature or damage its habitat. If you see chicks in a nest or a basking seal looking at you, you’re too close.
• Frozen posture, retreating, or agitated calls mean it’s time to back away.
• Stay quiet, move slowly, and never block an animal’s route or view. Interrupting feeding, nesting, or raising young can put animals at risk.
• Feeding wild creatures can make them sick. If fed too much, creatures become tame and start approaching people, which leads to dangerous encounters.
• Stick to marked paths to protect plants underfoot.
• .Take all rubbish with you. Don’t disturb nests or burrows.
• Report injured or trapped animals to wildlife rescues.

Raising Awareness for Wildlife Conservation 

and this is a damselfly! Lee Frost

Wildlife faces pressures every day—loss of habitat, pollution, and poaching. Your camera can bring their struggles and beauty to the public eye. Photos connect people to distant animals, they may never see in real life.

Talented photographers can show what’s at stake, in a way that an environmental campaigner shouting from a podium never can.

Remember the photograph of the sea turtle caught in fishing net? The photographer immediately untangled the creature after taking the photo to highlight the damage.