In this weeks discussion, we are looking at the responsibility photographers should have with their practice. The photographer must have a responsibility to the subject to treat it fairly and honestly. The subject may or may not have the ability to control the outcome of the image or how it will be used. The use of pictures on social media is a common way images can be publicised, sometimes unintentionally, without the consent of the subject (as is the case of photographing minors). Reportage photography is different in that it is alerting us, the public, to disasters or conflict etc. While this subject may be considered more important and more pressing, other areas of this discussion have affected my practice.
For many years my favourite subject was nature photography. I was influenced by the impressive images in magazines and the thought of travelling to wild places. I wanted to be a full time professional and attended several workshops to get that quick fix from the honey pots of wildlife around the UK. The places I frequented, like Donna Nook for the Grey Seal and Lathkill Dale for the amazing Dippers, became very popular. Indeed so popular that there were times when you had to compete for space! More importantly, it became apparent this practice was harming the wildlife and their habitat. Over time this intrusiveness of photographers had a profound effect on the breading of the animals. This was so severe that as a consequence, many wildlife trusts had to provide a voluntary code of conduct. My own conscience made me rethink my responsibility towards the subject. My photographs were not original or new, and the purpose of them was for my own indulgence. I decided to leave the animals alone, after all how many pictures do you need of a Grey Seal!
This guide is freely available from the RPS web site http://www.rps.org/special-interest-groups/nature/about/the-nature-photographers-code-of-practice.
Grey Seal - Donna Nook ©Robert McMillan