A Nature Photographers Manifesto
What if this whole “business” of nature photography has little to do with the pictures?
Recently I wrote an article about Sustaining Your Passion & Creativity. and I received the most touching email from my dear friend Rick Sandford who has been with us since the beginning of our photographic careers. I wrote to him and asked if I could share it here and he gave me his blessing.
He said about his photography:
“I would say that to some people they just seem like meaningless pictures and a huge waste of money, effort and time. But to me, it is a passion for perfecting the tools by which I can bring to others who are not as lucky as I am to enjoy travel and the beautiful parts of God’s Creation, and give them the opportunity to see what is out there. Perhaps I can inspire some to be a part of conserving our great resources, stoke a fire inside some on a career in the future, but just understand that God gave us all this beauty to enjoy and take care of and share. And to come to God and give thanks to Him for all this beautiful Creation we have!!
When people pour out words from the deep places of their souls that stem from experiences, it’s sacred. This email is sacred.
Whether he knew it or not, a nature photographers manifesto is hidden in these words. It goes something like this:
A Nature Photographers Manifesto:
My photography exists from an internal need for nature.
To some, it may seem like a meaningless practice, but for me, it’s the act of a sacred script.
It’s the place where I document where God guides my feet through a journey and what He reveals with His Light, in the purest place this side of heaven.
I’m a craftsman whose tools have evolved over time. It’s my aim to use them to accurately portray what was revealed and what was experienced.
If in these humble images, replicas of a Divine masterpiece can encourage and bring Light to those who are unable to stand on these vistas, I gladly submit to their creation.
If through these images, a wanderer is drawn into nature and saves a single tree, I gladly submit to the art of nature photography.
If through these images, a timid artist searching for significance decides they too would like to document the sacred script of Divine Glory, I gladly submit to the art of nature photography.
Light to the invalid, romance with conservation, and inspiring creativity are noble byproducts, but are not my purpose to that which I create.
The purpose of the truest act of nature photography is to escape into nature for the sake of being present in nature.
It’s returning to a place of simplicity, belonging, and searching.
It’s the act of finding the One I search for each, sitting down and while He creates with color and Light, I sit in awe and in His image, I too create.
~
My friend finished his email with this:
“So for as long as there is blank memory card space and unused external hard drives and great tools, like cameras and lenses, and God is allowing me to breathe on a daily basis, then, NO, I do not have nearly enough pictures!! The job is not yet complete”.
Yes, friend. As long as there is a trail near or far from home, a memory card with available space, a simple camera in our hand, let’s venture out into nature, for the sake of returning to the place we were created: Returning to Eden to worship.
It’s there we’ll find our greatest joy, His Presence and our purpose.
