The Art and Craft of Landscape and Conservation Photography

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Landscape Photography for Conservation

with Erwin Buske

Conservation Photography – the practice of nature and landscape photography that promises a sustainable future.

• Documentary style – providing before and after images showing damage to the environment.
• Inspirational style – providing images that affect people at an emotional level and help them develop a love and appreciation for nature and cultivate a desire to protect and preserve natural places.

Social Media

• Share with conscience – you want to inspire people with your images without the threat of attracting hundreds or thousands to an area with the potential to cause damage to the environment.
• Don’t give specific locations. Instead, share more about the EXPERIENCE of being there.
• Incorporate your emotional state of mind into the titles of your images.

Near-Far Compositions for Landscapes

• Get really close to a foreground object with a wide-angle lens, focusing as close as possible (6”-8” away) and balance the rest of the image with your midground and background.
• 1/3 to 2/3 of image is large foreground (flowers or stones) with a visual path through to the background.
• The subject of the image is the landscape, but the foreground sometimes makes the shot.
• Get low and immerse yourself in the scene. Make micro-adjustments to balance the composition.
• Remove dead leaves or twigs to clean up the scene but do your best to preserve living things and LEAVE NO TRACE.
• You may have to employ focus stacking techniques and shift your focus point on the camera to get everything in the scene sharp.

Important Tips for Protecting the Environment

• Watch your step. Walk on a hard path or on rocks to try to minimize damage to surrounding plants.
• Educate yourself on the areas you visit.
• Become knowledgeable about the rules and restrictions for the area – ask permission from the landowner if on private property.
• Be a good role model and ambassador.
• Images can be donated directly to conservation groups for use or proceeds from certain sales can be donated to the group.

Finding Erwin

ErwinBuske.com

Facebook Facebook Group – Destination Pacific Northwest

Instagram

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