Practicing sustainability as a photographer.
Sustainability is a big part of my life, it has to be, I love this planet and want to take care of it to the best of my capabilities. It is earth month, so let’s talk about sustainability in photography in this bonus blog post! I think it is time that the photography industry gets serious about sustainability, and I would like to contribute to the change. From the gear that I use to the bag that I carry it in, and from the days in the field to the final print, sustainability plays in every aspect of my photography practice, and I hope to inspire you to make a more sustainable choice too.
Gear - second hand, renting & sustainable brands
A lot of products fall under the term ‘photography gear’ so let me break it down a little and start with the camera, lenses & tripods. Here, immediately, lies the weakness. Manufacturing digital cameras requires a lot of electronic parts, some of which are produced using toxic substances. Although, a shift is starting to take place as many camera brands are realising a change needs to be made to make their manufacturing more green & sustainable, buying used remains the best option at the moment. It doesn’t always mean that you have to compromise quality, from well-used and much loved gear to a barely used piece, you really can find it all. And if these benefits weren’t enough just yet, your wallet will thank you too, because let’s be honest, new camera gear is quite expensive. Renting is another way to implement sustainability in your practice, whether you rent before you decide to buy a piece of gear or rent it for your upcoming trip, it is a choice that nature will thank you for.
Making a more sustainable choice when it comes to our camera accessories is a little easier in the sense that there are simply more options to choose from. Where buying used remains a solid option, a few brands come into play as well. Two of those brands are WANDRD & Urth which have also been my personal choice when it comes to my gear, and I’d like to highlight them today.
WANDRD
Launched by two photographer brothers that were having such a difficult time finding a backpack that both looked good and functioned well, they decided to make their own. WANDRD was born and the PRVKE was launched on Kickstarter in 2015. An updated version of this bag is what I own and intensely use today. WANDRD bags are made to endure; made from high quality materials such as ballistic nylon & weather resistant YKK zippers. The sustainable aspect of WANDRD doesn’t necessarily lie in the sustainable nature of the materials used, it is instead found in the longevity of use the materials provide and the lifetime warranty (yes, really a lifetime) WANDRD gives its customers.
Urth
Founded during a trip from California to Patagonia in 2014, Urth came forth from a connection with nature, creativity & the insight that we have a direct impact on the environment and a responsibility to make this impact a positive one. Urth focuses on making products with low-impact, long-lasting materials that will last a lifetime or more, which they provide a warranty for. Despite using low-impact but high-quality (recycled) materials for their products, Urth understands that each product made has a negative impact on the planet. That’s why they’re working towards making a positive impact for each purchase made through their tree planting initiative. Urth plants up to 10 trees in communities affected by deforestation in Madagascar, Nepal, Haiti, Mozambique & Indonesia with the help of their partner Eden Reforestation Projects. Every purchase automatically plants 5 trees, and with a code on the package, you can register to plant 5 more trees. Urth is a community, aside from being a company, made by and for creators who care about and for the planet.
Taking care of nature, when in nature
Days in the field may be the easiest when it comes to sustainability. Leave no mess, and preferably clean up a mess that’s not yours when you stumble upon one. Further taking care of nature when in nature includes not disturbing the flora & fauna. For flora that includes not pruning a plant only for a photo when you can just as easily move it out the way temporarily or set up your shot differently. For fauna that includes not booming music through a speaker, or coming too close to the wildlife; a general rule is if you can’t cover the animal with your thumb when you stretch your arm in front of you, you’re too close. For beautiful animal close ups use either a longer lens or try your luck and be patient for the animal to move closer to you. Remember that you are a visitor to the area which the flora & fauna call home; behave as if you’re a visitor to someone’s home.
Sharing nature in nature-friendly ways
Seeing your photo being created line by line is a magical thing to watch, so it is unfortunate that printing methods are often bad for you and the environment. Other ways to share your beautiful nature photos in more nature-friendly ways is to, for example, have a digital display you can use time & time again or print on reclaimed paper. This part of my photographs journey is something I am still researching, I will update this blog with new information when I acquire it. Some companies do, however, provide a more nature-friendly approach to printing (paper). I’ve listed some service companies & sustainable fine art paper below.
Photo Innovation Lab - based in Oak Park, Illinois, USA
The Print Space - based in London, UK (& Dusseldorf, Germany)
Hahnemühle natural line - bamboo paper is the most recommended out of the collection
MOAB paper - the sustainable options are ‘entrada’ / ‘juniper’ / ‘somerset’ / ‘moenkopi’
