I’m sure over the years we’ve all heard the mantra “Leave nothing but footprints take nothing but photographs.”, it’s a well spoken and oft used mantra along with many others such as “Tread lightly” “Leave no trace” and numerous other worthy mantras.
But I’d like to introduce a new mantra, or rather modify an existing one.
“Leave nothing but footprints take nothing but photographs and trash.”
I know 99.99% of Photographers follow the mantra of leave nothing behind. But unfortunately, we do not make up 100% of the worlds population. Sadly even in the most remotest of locations not inhabited by man, we can find the refuse of mankind – plastic rappers, plastic bottles, fishing nets, nylon, etc and all forms of non-biodegradable trash.
On my travels I’ve seen the impact of mankind where ever I go. But it is the proliferation of litter/trash that causes me the most grief. In the middle of the Gobi Desert there was masses of plastic water bottles and broken beer bottles. In the Arctic I saw pieces of Nylon from fishing nets. I’ve seen Potato Crisp packets, fishing line, bouys, cans, bottles, plastic wrap, string, car tyres, old machinery and the list goes on. Many items were dumped due to a lack of care, or a lack of fore thought, some were accidents, some were planned dumpings.
Canon 5D Mk III, 1/13 f/11 25mm ISO 100
This trash could have been left behind by a not so mindful traveller or it could’ve been carried by wind or sea currents from far far away and ends up in the remotest of locations where it has a negative impact on wild life.
If you haven’t seen the film Midway, then please go have a look at this trailer to see the type of carnage that can occur on a island 2,000km (1,250 miles) away from humanity.
We as photographers, may not have left this trash, but it is something we can all help out with. We can raise social awareness with regards to the issue of trash and changing peoples mindsets and behaviours will have a massive impact in the long term. And in the short term, we can contribute to solving this problem by helping with the cleanup.
If I may, I’d like to implore you that next time you are out in the field, if you could pick up some trash, even if its just one single piece, and put it in your camera bag to take home to be disposed of somewhere less destructive. Our beautiful environments will stay that way for just that little bit longer if can all help out. I always take a bag for trash whenever I head out be it to photograph, for a bush walk or camping with friends and family. Every bit of trash I can pick up whilst out doing my thing will make a difference, and the more of you that adopt and spread this practice and mantra the more we will make a difference.
As side note, and a general caution, in some places that I lead expeditions to, there are historic sites, so please be mindful of items of historical significance.
It’s not a big ask, and the sad reality of it is I do not think many of us will have to search hard and far when out in the field to find a piece of trash to pick up. In an ideal world, we wouldn’t have trash and we wouldn’t have people carelessly disposing of it. But we don’t live in an ideal world.
Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but photographs and trash.