Conservation & Photography
One of the main reasons I believe I take photographs of nature is not only to preserve a memory of natural beauty in time, but also in hopes to preserve the subject its self. A lot of the landscapes I photograph, specifically the forests and river systems of Vancouver Island are unfortunately under constant threats from government & private developments as well as other human interference. From logging to urbanization to the construction of roads, even down to things such as poor tourism and trail management are dramatically and increasingly affecting the ecosystem and our environment not just on Vancouver Island, but our planet as a whole.
I believe nature photography is a great tool for showcasing the natural beauty of our environment while putting an emphasis on the importance of protection, preservation and restoration. The earth and its ecosystem has been around long before humans were and has developed an extremely interconnected system of evolution which maintains balance and harmony on the planet. I think humans have an equal potential to affect nature in both positive and negative ways; and there is a choice in the matter. (Don’t even get me started on the impact on wildlife, that’s for another blog) Photography can showcase the true and magnificent beauty of nature, as well as reveal the horrible carnage and destructive reality of our impacts as humans, on it. If you have ever seen the before and after photos from logging projects on First Growth or Old Growth Forests, you will see what I mean. Even after years and years of re-growth, it is very, very sad and un-natural to look at.
How do we as humans this impact our planet and our environment with our choices, morals and behaviors? How does our environment impact us as a species? How will our impact affect our children? and our children’s children? and the other species we share this plant with? I believe visual documentation can be a key process in this evolving topic; highlighting the beauty of nature while simultaneously showcasing our destructive forces upon it. This can plant a ‘visual’ seed if you will, in the fruitful minds of young humans.
I feel we are in an age that is moving quicker and quicker towards technology and we are slowly loosing touch with our natural selves and our natural environment. I think this is dramatically affecting how we view our environment and how we treat it. For example, things such as agriculture and farming are becoming increasingly mechanized and chemicalized by the day. Farming and food acquisition in general has become so disconnected from our natural state that is just shows up at your door after clicking a few buttons on your phone. And yet, amoung children and young adults, video games such as ‘Stardew Valley’ and other nostalgic farming games remain popular. These kids are LITTERALLY spending hours ‘farming’ virtual corn crops in a digital realm while ordering artificial, chemically made corn dogs to their door. This is just merely one example of human behavior that is so counter intuitive and revealing of our culture as a whole and how it is evolving with respect to nature, our environment, and our relationship with it. In video games, there is a reset button if everything goes to shit; in life, there isn’t.
In summary, I believe photography can be a wonderful conservation tool for our planet and ecosystem. There’s an old saying “I’ll believe it when I see it”; with respect to the destruction of our planet and its ecosystems by humans; this is very easy to document and display through photography.
-Written By: Mike McCumber
