In photography, best practice codes and ethical standards dictate how photographers capture, manipulate, and share images. These codes ensure respect for subjects, transparency for viewers, the legal protection of intellectual property and protect natural habitats from being disrupted by creators.
1. Digital & Wildlife Preservation
Environmental codes protect natural habitats from being disrupted by creators.
Leave No Trace: Wildlife photographers adhere to codes requiring them to maintain a safe distance, avoid baiting or stressing animals, and prevent damage to delicate ecosystems.
The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace
- Plan Ahead and Prepare: Check local weather, rules, and trail conditions before heading out, and carry proper gear.
- Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces: Stick to established trails and hard-packed ground to protect delicate plant life and prevent soil erosion.
- Dispose of Waste Properly: Pack out all trash, leftover food, and litter (“pack it in, pack it out”), and handle human waste according to local guidelines.
- Leave What You Find: Take photos instead of picking plants, moving rocks, or disturbing cultural and historical artifacts.
- Minimize Campfire Impacts: Use established fire rings, keep fires small, and ensure coals are completely cold before leaving.
- Respect / Nature Photography : centres on one hard and fast rule – “The welfare of the subject is more important than the photograph.”
- Be Considerate of Other Visitors: Keep noise levels low, yield to other trail users, and respect local residents and property owners.
- Fossil Code : Scotland is a rich destination for palaeontology and fossil hunting, offering key geological eras from the Cambrian to the Jurassic.
- Scottish Outdoor Access Code : The Scottish Outdoor Access Code gives detailed information on these rights and responsibilities, under three main areas 1.) Respecting the interests of other people. 2.) Caring for the environment. 3.) Taking responsibility for your own actions.
- The Countryside Code : The Countryside Code provides an essential framework for respecting the British outdoors by balancing the needs of visitors, residents, and local workers.
- Creative Commons & Attribution: Standardized licensing formats provided by Creative Commons Attribution Practices clarify how images can be legally shared, reused, or modified online. Used by ourselves
More will be added as created.