My Philosophy on Wildlife Photography
I believe photography is a powerful way to connect with others and share conservation messages. I also believe, however, that wildlife and environmental photography should be carefully and ethically practiced. Inappropriate wildlife photography can inadvertently support the illegal pet trade or encourage people to interact with wildlife in problematic ways. Even researchers can unintentionally cause issues by taking photos with their study species and sharing them out of context!
If you practice wildlife photography please consider the ethical implications of your photos and always maintain safe, respectful distances from your subjects. If you're a fellow researcher, make sure to share your photos in context and provide disclaimers about permits and IACUC-approved handling methods.
Guidelines for Responsible Images of Primates
The IUCN Primate Specialist Group Section for Human-Primate Interactions recently published a set of guidelines for responsible images with primates. You can find a PDF of the guidelines on the resources section of their website, available in twelve languages (and counting!). I've converted the English version of these guidelines into the below set of Instagram-friendly infographics, which are available for download and sharing.
Below is a collection of amateur wildlife photography from my own experiences in Indonesia. All images were taken from a safe distance (thanks, zoom lens!) and photography stopped if/when animals displayed visible signs of stress. All photos by Kristen Morrow. Click an image to expand and see details
