Gary Randall Photography adheres to a personal and professional code of ethics while creating my photos.
Environment
- I inform myself about all rules and regulations relating to photography when
visiting a natural area or public attraction. - I do not knowingly step onto private property without permission even if the
property appears abandoned. - I stay on designated paths and trails. If there is no trail, I follow proper etiquette
by educating myself on the principles of Leave No Trace. - I aim for authenticity by photographing plants and animals in their natural habitat
engaging in their normal behaviors. - I inform myself about the plants and animals I intend to photograph. I avoid
photographing them if they exhibit distress signals, and during times of physical
strain or breeding seasons. If my presence is causing stress, I leave the area
immediately. - I help to protect the environment by picking up trash I find when in the field.
- I work to improve my photographic skills by using all my tools when making a
composition. I do not move objects, pull plants or otherwise ‘tidy’ a scene. I move
my position or wait patiently rather than attempt to influence an animal’s
behavior or posture. - I refrain from baiting (including sound baiting), or placing attractants to entice
wildlife or influence their behavior. Also, I remove all artificial attractants I find
in wild places that were placed there by others. - I treat wild animals living in an urban environment, such as songbirds, with the
same respect that I accord to those living in the wild. I consider their safety and
well being before putting out seed. If I do, I research the proper natural organic
food and follow proper procedures to ensure the cleanliness of the feeder to
minimize the risk of disease. I locate the feeder to avoid cover for predators as
well as potential in-flight collisions with reflective house windows. - I keep rare species safe and intact by not broadcasting the location of a fragile
area, plant or animal. - I remove GPS data from my images before sharing them
with others. - I avoid stopping to photograph if it is likely to start a chain reaction resulting in
other visitors crowding the area. I find another time or place to continue
photographing.
Social
- I ask permission before photographing an identifiable person.
- I treat all people with respect.
- I treat models with courtesy, repaying professionals with prints or fees for their
work. - I do not reimburse people where to do so would take advantage of their social or
economic position or unduly influence them to pose for my picture. - I am patient and courteous with non-photographers visiting a scene. I am creative
and can adjust my expectations of the images I planned to make. I am open to
new ideas as they present themselves to me. - I am aware of my position and how it may interfere with the ability of the
photographers and non-photographers around me to enjoy a scene. - If someone wanders into my scene, I am courteous and will wait for them to
move. I will consider adjusting my own position, or kindly asking them to move
when they are ready. - If I see someone violating the Code of Ethics, I will consider talking with them
about the possible effects of their behavior. I will only do so if I do not perceive
any threat to my personal safety. As an alternative, and if their behavior is
particularly egregious, I will consider documenting the situation and reporting
them to the appropriate authorities.
Self
- I adopt this Code of Ethics and strive to adhere to these important principles.
- I am an ambassador of ethical conduct in the industry through my own behavior
and by sharing these principles with other photographers and the public. - I know and respect my physical limitations and keep myself out of harm’s way by
avoiding situations where my health and safety or the health and safety of others
could be put at risk by my actions. - I educate myself about the weather, terrain, culture and potential hazards before
visiting a new area. - If I am leading a photo group, whether commercially or not, I ensure that the
group members are informed about the Code of Ethics, potential hazards and
other safety concerns, and that the group size is appropriate given the sensitivity
of the place we are visiting. - I am always forthcoming about my post-processing and refrain from representing
my photographs as something they are not.
