BEGINNERS KIT FOR CONSERVATION PHOTOGRAPHER

Conservation photographers, in other words, are wildlife and nature photojournalists that direct their duty towards making a difference for society. Photographers in this field have a very important goal: to tell the story and support nature. Eventually, they aim to represent positive change with the messages their photographs represent. Does this sound like something you are planning to pursue? Here’s how you start to become a nature conservation photographer.

- SANCHIT MISHRA

Step 1: Research

Firstly, improve your knowledge on the present environmental issues in the world. Google what the latest news is in this field. Read news, magazines, blogs and research papers on environmental problems and actions. Only when you are aware of what is happening in the nature and what are the problems, will you be able to understand which issue is important to cover first. You can fill these gaps by reporting with your photographs.

Step 2: Have a goal

Choose a particular cause in which you are interested. For example, if you’re interested more in wildlife conservation, you can plan to become a conservation photographer that focusses on endangered animals, issues related to hunting and wild animal protection. Set an aim that you want to go for this with your photography as well. Do you want to help in decreasing the amount of plastic waste in the ocean by capturing affected marine animals? Do you want the government of a country to provide more funds on drought help for farmers by capturing images of the dry lands? Do you want to aware people about the climate change by capturing a polar bear struggling to get off from a floating ice? In short, make sure you know what you are planning for, and let your goal be striking in each option you choose.

Step 3: Start close to home