REI Presents: In Our Nature - Ep 1 | Is
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- Опубліковано 6 лип 2024
- Travel photographer Erin Sullivan takes us on a journey to explore the impacts of the social media-fueled photography and the importance of being responsible and respectful visitors while recreating in the lands we love.
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About the series:
As a co-op, we believe that a life outdoors is a live well lived. We’re dedicated to protecting and advocating for the lands we love, and that starts with understanding the macro issues and trends that impact these outdoor places and the people who recreate in them. The 'In Our Nature' series is created to help us all become more informed and active stewards of the environment. Have a topic you’d like us to explore? Let us know in the comments below. - Спорт
I was in Yakima Canyon and there was an REI photoshoot going on -- nothing like the sound of a large drone to scare off all of the birds that I came to see, and to ruin the peace and quiet I came to find.
Photography is not ruining the outdoors... uncaring, irresponsible, selfish people are.
SDDucati Bingo!
Eh. Two sides of the same coin. Those selfish idiots wouldn't be there if photography wasn't so accessible to them.
diesel828 lol are we talking about guns or photography?
The issue these days is that people don’t take responsibility for their actions anymore.
Few years ago it was said that more people died from a selfie than from a shark attack.
As a rock climber, I see the impact at my local crags. “Loving to death” is such a serious issue...
Via Climbs some classics are being destroyed because of the issue, such a hard one to fix
I’m a climber as well. Kind of afraid of the Olympics making it even more popular, but also wanting people to see it’s a cool sport.
Ansel Adams photos started a generation of taking care of our environment and protecting our cherished wilderness(s). It’s not the photos being the issue it’s the inconsiderate idiots that are the problem. Great topic you started and well presented.
Yeah people are just proving they have the ability to go there. If they had no proof, they wouldn't bother the trip. I've experienced people urinating against ancient megalithic structures, older than the pyramids....
schoocg I agree.
I can tolerate a few clueless selfie takers creating an "Instagram traffic jam" at the trail hotspots but meadow stompers and litterbugs are too destructive and need some educating. These are your parks, call them out when you see it. We really need to police ourselves out there because there aren't enough rangers to realistically baby-sit millions of visitors.
I am an avid backpacker and a couple years back we had a group in Colorado Weminuche Wilderness. Some people were new to the experience. Anyway, one of the newbies tossed his coffee mixture plastic into the trees and we all literally yelled at him. I hate it when people litter no matter where you are, but it aggravates me even more when they do it in a pristine location. Needless to say we taught him how to practice leave no trace.
@@Zoltoks In two weeks six likes for this comment worldwide! These people better not litter in front of me at a national park!
Adam W Adam W they will! And when you say something to them they will look at you like you’re the bad guy they have no respect man it’s scary the type of people we let into our countries
As someone whom hikes and fishes a lot. When you find a “secret” fishing spot you tell no one or only those you know will respect and honor it. I apply the same principle to my hikes. Somethings are just better kept to yourself and don’t need to be put out there for less careful people. Who knows you might have just saved some part of nature to continue to thrive.
I know the feel. A buddy of mine said he shared his sacred spot with someone he thought he could trust. Only hours later it ended up on social media and the following week HUNDREDS of people were there.
:(
People are not taking iconic pictures to see and understand the scene in front of them. They are taking the pictures to satisfy their social needs, to be part of a group. Horseshoe Bend is only a means for social connection. There are so many beautiful places but for many people if they are not popular they are not worth going to. I would love it if you could talk about the ethics of drone photography.
cwetfeet I wouldn't necessarily say they are not worth going to. It's just... many people don't know about them.
@@Jokl92 I think you missed my point, for a great many people places are worth going to because they are popular not because they are beautiful.
This has been on my mind a lot recently, and while I've never been a big social media person, I used to take at least a few photos of my adventures to share. I've made it a point over the last several months to not take any photos, and just be in the moment and enjoy what's in front of me, and I've loved it.
Take the photos if you like to - just dont give away the locations if you choose to post them on social media
Sheep. If I see crowds I dont go. It's ok, I'll survive. Or I go in the off season. Zion is a ghost town in the winter. Theres plenty of nice places where people dont go as much. You just need to hike there.
nezerpgs we went to Zion in November and it was one of the best experiences of my life. Absolutely no crowds
That’s why I love backpacking so much, it’s also interesting that backpacking trails have the least litter even tho you have to pack it out. Goes to show how many shit heads won’t go somewhere if there’s a few miles they have to walk.
even if it isn't as iconic, The work you had to put in to work there makes it all the more special.
I hiked the entire Souther Portion of the Badlands in SD during July. Not one soul once you get off the road. The Beauty of the Badlands is that no one is out in the backcountry no matter what season it is.
Zion in the Fall and early spring (before May) is also great.
Just make sure you don’t go on a holiday weekend such as near Thanksgiving.
The horseshoe bend shocked me. I was there 2014. It was hard to find. Only a dirty parking lot without seeing anything of interest.
What happened is crazy.
Schnorks yes, agreed - the shift is so dramatic. I worked nearby in 2013, and my friends and I would be the only ones around every time! Hard to believe there’s a parking lot now!
🤙 This is a great message. I am a UK Mountain Leader and over the last few years we have seen the moutains start to change. The amount of people been lead over the classic routes is destroying the hill side. I think education is 100% needed. People need to know how we can look after these beautiful areas.
I've been an outdoor photographer for 40 years. It's only with the advent of cell phones, social media, and selfies that the crowds at national parks and other points of interest has gotten out of control. I don't know what can be done to fix the problem. All I can do is try to avoid the crowds as much as possible and travel during shoulder seasons.
The solution is to make all these amazing view points only accessible by walking a few miles. No more sitting on your ass to get to a view point, that wouldn’t weed out everyone but it would weed out most of the litterbugs for sure
The digital camera age, and having a camera on a cellphone that takes better pictures than consumer level digital cameras 10 years ago, is a major part of this issue, and now the fact you can instantly upload a picture from your DSLR or smartphone, has helped cause this insane social media photo posting trend, by making it so damn easy to take a photo or "snapshot". Travel photographers tend to capture the same image as the millions before them. Where is the originality in that? And instantly put it out there - where is the artistic expression that makes that photograph ones own, and does it stand out from the crowds?
If all these photogs and snap-shooters had to take rolls of film to the photo lab like many of us did in the past, and wait in anticipation for the prints to see if they captured some good compositions, or went into a darkroom to develop their images, there would not be this problem (monkey see monkey do, comes to mind). Ansel Adams did exactly that, he had unique artistry with his craft, and worked hard at composing and developing his photos so they spoke to others from his own perspective and minds eye, setting his work apart from the others. Only those who strive to be different, will not be seen at these grossly over-photographed hot spots. I guarantee somebody has already taken what somebody else would consider "their own take" of that hotspot.
I still print on a fine art large format printer; from previsualization , to capture, to online presentation, and to print, is true photographic skill. Again, this creates separation from the crowds, most all the millions who post their digital images to IG Facebook, 500px (including many pros), do not know the art of printing, do not know what it is to print for an exhibition etc. do not know what printing entails, or why Ansel Adams called the photograph "the score" and the final print "the performance". Wilderness is a church, a natural Disney Land, why battle the masses anymore at these hotspots, its not very enjoyable to those who seek peace and a greater connection with the outdoors, and wish to uniquely express these moments artistically and photographically.
I grew up just outside of Zion. The park used to be a place that I would visit with friends and family for a sense of peace, solitude, and beauty. It was the pinnacle of my childhood. Hiking along the rock cliffs and feeling like you and your friends were the only people to have laid eyes on the parks stunning scenery was surreal. Then in 2013, the crowds hit and they hit hard. Ever since then, the overflow of traffic and people has gotten so bad it’s damned local attendance to the park. That feeling of solitude and seclusion has been completely lost due to the sea of selfie sticks, cameras, and leftover trash one has to wade through to get down any trail in the park. It felt as though Zion’s had gone from National Park to Disneyland overnight. Experiencing this change was comparable to losing a dear friend. Even worse, the impacts caused by the overflow of visitors to Zion have not been limited to changing the park. The influx of visitors has changed my town as well, making its main industry tourism. It’s become a nightmare to go anywhere within the local vicinity. While I’m excited to be able to share the beauty of my home with avid travelers, I hope visitors to the park will stay aware of the experience of others, picking up trash when they can, putting down the phones to clear up congestion on the trail, preventing wandering on social trails, and avoiding overcrowding already densely visited areas. Hopefully, the park finds some method to fairly manage the heavy traffic within the park soon, for the benefit of all not just locals, not just visitors, but everyone who has a desire to experience the wonder that Zion’s has to offer.
“Growth for the sake of growth is the ideology of the cancer cell” -Abbey
Anonymous G classic abbey. Mad respect for his bold words
Love that REI made a video about this. I am a photographer and nature lover. I prefer my nature in solitude or with minimal people around. I do like that photography gets people outside and seeing the world. I do not like the damage that can and is being caused by it. I think with videos like this and efforts those in the video are doing we can have the best of both worlds.
Great to see someone with a commonsense is putting this out. Erin is a great photographer and I'll be watching the series.
Great job Erin, of showing how we need to be responsible and appreciate what nature has to offer each and everyone of us. It is sad that too many do not. I appreciate the insight into this problem.
Fantastic vid!
I love that you're taking on this issue. I think you've hit the nail on the head and you've approached it in a way to encourage real change.
So many extraordinary places are so much more accessible than they ever have been. And I'm thrilled so many people are outdoors, but every year when I go back to share my favorite adventures with those I love there are inevitably more people. And many are just not respectful in the least.
I've gone through the task of removing any online or in-app reviews I've posted of the places I love. I would truly enjoy sharing them with those who will treat them right.
Can't wait to see the rest of the series!
This is a really great essay. I've seen this same craziness over the last decade or so of visiting national parks. I agree about the awareness of preservation. Also, from a creative perspective, try challenging yourself to visit and place and take *no* photos. Don't bring a camera, turn off your phone. Obviously don't do this on your once in a lifetime trip you've saved up for, you want memories, but someplace pretty nearby. Just enjoy nature. Try it.
There are caring people and there are viruses. As a photographer, I find I often miss out on events, experiences as l’m trying to frame that perfect photo separated from the event protected by my camera. The repeat thing is interesting. The lack of creativity in capturing the same photo. Gives me an idea for a photo project. Interesting series, I look forward to more.
I definitely agree, creating videos on our adventures does make me feel more connected/engaged with the adventure. I definitely want to be part of the solution with helping people understand how to take care of our special natural spaces... it breaks my heart to see vandalism and litter anywhere, but especially in these beautiful natural areas. ☀️
This message needs to be broadcast. So important. Some locations are so 'overshot' it becomes a cliche and spoils the opportunity for other Photographers.
Photography ruining the outdoors? Better title social media is ruining the outdoors.
I dont know why, but this nature craze is getting on my nerves. Perhaps I feel this way because the outdoors to me has always been a special quiet place and now all these photos and social media posts are everywhere. People are practicing destructive bushcraft, and the gear craze is getting on my nerves too. You dont need to spend $1500 dollars to experience the outdoors. You are much better getting into shape and learning to "rough" it before you drop $$$.
Zoltoks sums up exactly how I feel man. They just become sheep to get the same selfie their friend got, luckily these sheep never make it far into the parks and you get to enjoy the outdoors with some peace and quiet
HUMANS ruining the outdoors.
I’m watching this in a hiker hostel on the AT. Even in more remote stretches of trail I see trash (including broken glass) and vandalism. Even many people who apparently love the outdoors enough to gear up and do a serious walk can’t be bothered to leave no trace. It’s weirdly shocking how irresponsible so many people are. It really isn’t hard to NOT leave a wake of waste and destruction.
Hi, Stu. We wish you happy trails on the AT. Thanks for watching and for commenting.
Wow, thank you so much for producing that video. I really appreciate your effort to objectively look at the many different facets and outcomes of photography in the outdoors in a simple, brief and caring way. I've often thought of photography as detracting from our experience of being in the moment and your video helped me to see that there's also the possibility of photography enhancing our experience when done with awareness. Keep going with your valuable work!
Photography isn’t killing the outdoors! It’s social media! If there wasn’t social media people wouldn’t be taking selfies! Please! Please if you take photos in the outdoors! Don’t post or say the location. When someone takes an awesome photo and post it on social media there are 1,000’s of people that will in turn and go there and cause chaos!
These places have been unfortunately made too easy to access for people who don’t really appreciate the land that much.
No Views Films I’d agree. Many of these Instagrammers (especially young girls) don’t care about the historical, ecological, topographical, or whatever -ical significance these places represent - they just want to show their friends they’ve been there by taking selfies. That’s the most annoying part of it all.
Yep, I've been to places like Horseshoe Bend (it was crowded but luckily still not as crowded as this video) where I've seen people hike up, snap a few selfies or group photos, then immediately start hiking back. Meanwhile I sat on the edge at Horseshoe Bend for a good 2 hours just soaking it all in!
This is why Edward Abbey hated paved roads these places are too accessible. Taking care of these places is about keeping people out.
Karl Patfield true im blaming roads that’s why you don’t see any trash on backpacking trails. Roads attract lazy slobs
Agreed, and that's why I love places you really have to work for to get to. Everyone is willing to hike half a mile from a parking lot to see a place, very few would be willing to hike 10 miles. The other plus as a photographer is that you don't have the same photo as 10 million other people!
What good is beauty if no one can enjoy it?
Huntstyle I couldn’t agree more
It's crazy! I was just at all of those places last couple of months minus the last location you were at. But I was just thinking the same thing with how Horseshoe Bend changed so much when I went back in 2015 and now... We didn't even decided to go in and relive the moment because of the crowd and the line in the parking lot... My first time at Zion on that same trip I thought I was at a mini Disney world..
Thanks Erin for stepping out in new directions. All the best to you in this endeavor.
I have been through wave lottery and hit up the “alternative spot” thank you for keeping this place sacred. Where is this are the worst three words on social media. Please don’t tag your locations when uploading, its ok to inspire others to explore, but do so with mystery. Keep the secrets secret else risk them turning into “permitted public land”
One of the few ads that I not only watch through in its entirety, but also actively sought out the channel that made it.
Well, people ruin everything, so there's that...
It’s leftists..Not Just People... The Socialists and LEFTISTS never”Live and Let live”, No they need to crusade..Ruined media, Tech, School, Bathrooms, College, Dating, STARWARS, UA-cam, Movies, childhood, indoors, Outdoors, cake shops.....The Nazis were both Leftists and Socialists, Mao was a leftist Socialist ..Today we have the U.N.Agenda/Socialist Democrats and fake climate change trash ruining everything....Yeah, People ruin stuff....Leftists people...
On a recent video after the 10 death on the Everest, the guy's idea to lower the number of climbers is 'if you couldn't tell anyone or post a selfie about it, would you still climb it?'
Love this video. This is all too true. We need a LOT more content like this to call out the challenges our parks are facing.
I know in my local area (Pittsburgh), I see many areas "Loved to Death" with trash being the number one problem. What bothers me most is seeing trash within feet of an actual garbage can. It is like the person just doesn't care if their plastic garbage item is right next to a river or stream. I hope you can effectively shed light on this type of blight.
A lottery to see some rock formations! Almost makes you wish the population was a little smaller.
I think we need to share this message with others, family, friends and whom ever else you can think of. I see a huge difference in the amount of people being “Outdoors”. We all need to be responsible in taking care of our planet.
Look at yosemite, people go to photograph the valley but very few actually do the hikes.
Don't geotag
Kliche travels if I ever geotag it’s super broad.
Instead of doing Horseshoe Bend, I’d tag the nearby town or just the state as a whole.
Especially for small local sites that aren’t discovered by the public.
Especially since I do live in Utah, and Zion is literally an hour south of me.
So there’s tons of gorgeous locations that I will just geotag a much more broad region rather than the name of the specific location.
I went and just drove, Saw nothing but pseudo Intellectual trash pretending to be deep...
Well presented Erin. Sadly this is happening in every genre of photography and primarily I think social media is to blame. From landscape to astrophography it is the same situation; people unwiitingly share all their images of a location online then you get a million copycats wanting to go and do the same thing. I photograph & film wildlife mostly and it gets mad when a rare bird shows up at a particular location; it's amazing how quickly people find out via social media and then people flock there, trampling ground, leaving litter, trespassing or parking dangerously just to get a view or photo. Last year a local beauty spot had horrific grass fires and it turns out it was caused by someone leaving a disposable BBQ unattended. People talk nowadays about 'mindfulness' but I think a lot of people are just mind-less!
I love that ya'll made this video! Such a great topic and some good advice for everyone. Thank you!
great series idea, awesome hosts/guests, stoked to see more!
The key to getting away from the crowds is to backpack out to a location that is only accessible by a long, challenging hike. The crowds melt away because most people are not fit enough or not willing to put in the physical work required to get there. There is absolutely nothing wrong with nature photography. We don't need to ban selfies or photography... that's nanny state paternalism. Perhaps, remove the roads and make people hike into the parks. The average person today is a shallow, uneducated moron. This is what we get when we give participation trophies to our kids and let them watch tv all day.
Thank you, Sejun!
I have 2 state parks close to me that are within a few miles of each other. 1 is very popular. The other isn't so well known. I enjoy both places. But I have noticed the popular on has more money spent on it has more trash and graffiti. Tree carving and names in the stone. The less popular 1 has less trail markings. And more natural trails. Some are literally stream beds you work your way through. Less stairs and so forth. It still has some beautiful material areas that are close to the way they were a 100 years ago.
Incredible insight! We should all focus more on the journey we experience rather than the destination. Everyone should get outdoors and be responsible. Go play!
This video is great. As an outdoor enthusiast who is also a photographer, I struggle with this topic a lot. Where do you draw the line of posting vs worrying about others loving the spot to death. When do you stop enjoying yourself and solely focus on an image? How do you deal with giving an opportunity for less environmentally educated people to seek out these special places vs. not posting at all? It's a dilemma. I'd love to see you do a similar video on drones. The USA has all but banned them from most beautiful places, however, I constantly find people breaking the rules (some didn't even know they existed).
Thank you for this! 💕
taking pictures for instagram or facebook is a popularity contest. I think in searching for the illusive shot, I have often gone off the beaten pass, and it has been aways more rewarding. But I think it is easy to get carried away when you are trying to get that perfect shot, which is why we should educate our fellow travelers and together help to preserve our Earth together.
This video is REI's selfie
Hate to be a pessimist but popularity and social media is going to lead to the destruction and ecological damage of these beautiful places. You try to get everyone to follow "leave no trace" principles but even a few bad apples can do a lot of damage and ruin things. Plus the insane hordes of people will inevitably change a landscape, the two places you cited in this video being the perfect examples. Horseshoe bend is simply ridiculous now. And have you seen the crowds at Angel's Landing in Zion? Do we even need more travel photographers visiting the same spots over and over again? There's already a plethora of IG outdoors photographers, youtubers, vloggers, etc. Everyone wants to be the next Ansel Adams or Jimmy Chin. The place that you went to as an alternative to "the wave"... in a few years, it's likely to be permitted also...
I agree with this and it sucks in some ways, but the video made a really good point that the areas are easier to protect with these crowds. The parks for me don't hold much for me but at the same time if rather a million tourists visiting the giant Sequoias than to let loggers take it. I hope more areas get more people and hopefully people become more conscious of their impact. I think time will improve it. If more areas in nature to get some additional visitors they can get more attention and funding to be protected. I'm from Ohio and there are a few really nice places, but they have only a handful of visitors a year and they're just being harvested for timber or oil reserves because literally no one visits. I'd be happier to pass a hundred hikers trying for a nice selfie than another bulldozer clearing another logging road in the forest.
T Sizzle the thing is with the location she went to instead of The Wave... is that she didn’t mention it by name.
She was broad in it’s location, saying its “near” The Wave... doesn’t say much at all. And keeps it’s identity a secret.
That’s why I’m much more broad in my geotags on instagram rather than listing it’s specific location.
@@pi654 Yeah but out of those hundred hikers 30 of them might throw trash on the ground, scratch up a rock or commit some other type of vandalism! People don't act like adults anymore, its just a world of mostly overgrown children! So your damned if you do and your damned if you don't! Plus this 5G shit emmitting powerful possibly cancer causing waves in even national parks. Towers are camouflaged in rocks and trees believe it or not! But I need 5G to instantly upload this selfie to Instagram, idiots! Then there's the new cameras! Not there to catch litterers or vandals but just to keep you under a constant surveillance state! What a great time these days at our national parks!
Having just returned from the BWCAW, I fully grasp the impact of people who do not understand the damage of their behavior on the environment. I have yet to find a campsite that didn’t have some form of trash that was not part of my group. On the upside, the BWCAW is managed by permit and you have to be willing to do the work to visit the area. This does help control the masses as seen at other popular areas. And, because it is an ever changing environment, there’s a better chance of creating photos that are different from other visitors. I was also in the Badlands and the Black Hills this summer. The crowds in the Badlands were so different from my last visit many years ago. Fortunately for me, I tend to look for the unusual for my photo art and will move away from the crowds when possible.
Thank you for this video and I agree with you 100%. 👍👍👍
I really think you’re right about this. I’ve been to Iceland 10 years ago. Totally feeling alone there. When I see the current status it breaks my heart.
A good video this.
This is why I never tag THE EXACT LOCATION.
Also I upload late - months after the trip..sometimes years. :)
I was just at Horseshoe a few days ago and it was INSANE. So many people doing some pretty dangerous things too. Wild.
This was an awesome video. I think its messages like this that people need to see more than "highlight" worthy photos.
Enough people have said this enough in the comments but, its not the photos its the people you ruin these places. We just need to continue to educate.
Thanks for posting this!
Thank you for creating this video to share with the world.
I haven't taken an outdoor photo during a hike or mountain bike ride since I read "The Humiliation of the Word" by Jacques Ellul.
Thank you for making this!
Wow! Great quality and content! And she is AWESOME 🤩 keep it coming 🤗
This turns my stomach. We've been hikers and runners for years, so I would be a hypocrite to say that other people shouldn't be using the trails we're on, but I do find myself wanting to keep them a secret. This is a deep subject. Thanks for bringing it up!
We think there's a lot here for all of us to ponder. Thanks for watching and sharing your thoughts, Chanda!
Please keep these videos coming! I am using these in a class I teach for high school students called Outdoor Education.
my old astronomy professor used to tell us - Human beings make things complicated, it is in our nature to complicate things, and this is a clear example of it.
I love this. Mad props to the team involved & thanks for taking the time to make it extremely enjoyable! I learned a lot. Please continue these kinds of series! Cheers from North Carolina :]
We're glad you enjoyed it, Jordan! What did you find as the most important takeaway?
@@rei I didn't realize how big of an issue social media has helped play a part in the over-crowding and in many cases, detrimental degradation, of our beloved national parks. It makes total sense to me now. I also learned that we as tourists & photo-hobbiest need to be more cognizant of how we interact with our national parks and other remote wonders, in hopes of maintaining their beauty & natural states. Also, on the other spectrum, I didn't realize taking deliberate photos increases your ability to remember & enjoy that particular moment/experience. I always thought/heard it was the opposite! Nice to know there is scientific research behind that. Awareness is key & I appreciate Erin and the teams ability to teach that in this video.
Definitely an issue that needs thought and debate. On one hand I see our society overweight, never getting out and enjoying the outdoors. On the other I see crowds at my favorite spots. It is a dilemma for sure. Education is the first thing that comes to mind. Call somebody out for littering. Carry a couple grocery bags and on your way out pick up garbage. Set an example. Be that inspiration!
As a person who enjoys photography from a stronger skill than just using my cellphone, what I've noticed is that I have to be very selective of what and where I am taking a picture. But I also remember to put down the camera and just enjoy the moment because between me and enjoying the outdoors is the camera itself. Furthermore, I have zero desire to post my photos anywhere except the wall of my home or the desktop of my computer or maybe with friends and family. That's it. Last but not least, my basic rule is never to be where a lot of people are and never to take pictures of people without asking. As for taking pictures of animals, either learn to understand animal behavior or risk your life interacting with them.
Interesting topic, which applies to extremes as the recently Everest queuing to summit. It all comes down to: do we want to go X place to show we were there or to experience it?
It's very interesting indeed. I think that a lot of the talking about how younger people are less into material things (like nice cars or the like) and more into "experiences" is that with social media people are now able to brag about it. Before you needed a nice car to show off, now you can show off with you IG feed. People don't change!
Great video, Thank you!
I LOL'd when Rachel Ross said "I knoooow!" #friends
So inspiring... just wow.
We'll never say this enough: LEAVE NO TRACE
We should go back to the good old days and only allow film cameras into national parks. Make them work to share that photo.
Great job, REI.
Anyone can take a picture of a bird or a mountain, but the truly special pictures are the ones with you and/or your friends and family. Or maybe your campsite or something you made.
After looking at lots of my photos I've realized that nearly all of them aren't meaningful to me years later.
Sometimes it takes away from being in the moment to take a picture, but if it's something you can print out and save for years to relive the moment then I think it's worth it.
So true, great info for the world.
This is soooo important! Exactly this basically totally destroyed Antelope canyon...
Great video Erin......Keep it up!
Great topic. Thanks for posting the video. There is so much to discuss. I recently visited Rocky Mountain National Park during the peak season. I attended a ranger program at Glacier basin campground. It is here I learned that some of the alpine plants can live for as long as 100 years or more, and one misplaced step can Squash it’s chance for survival in this harsh environment. Had I not attended the program, I may not have been so careful of my foot placement the next day during an alpine hike. I think education is crucial but it’s hard to convey this information to millions of people whom are easily distracted by beautiful views, wild animals, and selfie sessions. Is there one solution? Probably not. I think we are gaining some awareness and we need more work to spread the word.
Very sad situation, but all that you discussed is true. For future videos, consider discussing and showing examples of bad photographer behavior like approaching wild animals too closely, walking in front of or blocking other photographers, and destroying subjects like flowers so that other photographers cannot take photos of them. Thank you for bringing this issue froward.
Hi, Don! Thanks for watching. We appreciate your feedback and suggestions.
Awesome video!
this is so good dude! great vid.
She takes awesome pics!! I wanna travel bad!
If there is a silver lining to all this it might be that these places may have very few repeat visitors, since having taken the obligatory selfie, they have 'done' the location and will move quickly on to the next.
I'm a street shooter and I found myself incorporating the selfie culture into my work. But it can be difficult to keep it fresh. But it's easy to shoot because they often have zero self awareness.
Great video Erin
In these larger more popular spots we really need to think about daily limits on visitors...like they are doing at the Wave with permits. They should also be weighted heavily towards favoring residents/citizens.
Well done and very thought provoking for us to consider as we create travel videos here on UA-cam. We try to promote responsibility in all of our videos, like staying on the boardwalks in Yellowstone and not flying drones over protected lands. Hopefully our viewers will learn and do likewise, but I sometimes worry that our promotion of a place might inadvertently have negative impacts like the ones you highlighted in this video, and I really want to do more to minimize that possibility. -Brian
This legit makes me want to cry. It’s so sad, just... how can we get people to understand the importance of our impact?
100% TRUTH! Loved to death Colorado and Utah... one can never find solitude.
Oh there are plenty of places in Colorado to lose everyone. Go to the Weminuche wilderness and find Big meadows reservoir. Take the trail until you get to the fork. Take south fork trail and leave the world behind. It is no longer maintained and there is never anyone out there. Make a quest to see the spruce lakes, but also the lakes west of south fork. Loop back up to Archeleta Lake where you will see civilization again.
I do photography, mostly street and landscape, i do pick up garbage along hiking trails and put it where it belongs. I can't do that while i walk in nyc as garbage outnumbers me lol
Is it photography that is the issue?
Or is it the widespread impact of social media, partnered up with a general public who don’t understand the rules of Leave No Trace and it’s importance on the land.
Amen
My whole life since i was 6 ive been wanting to be a professional photographer and im 13 years old already i just hope my dreem comes true and im one with nature and anything that has to deal with nature , that im so passionate about it, but me ( and my family ) are in the poor side so we rarely are able to go exploring i would realy just love to enjoy beutiful places were i could be my self
Massive like on this. Love to death, it can be seen everywhere. In Guatemala we have amazing caves to visit, on many of them we can see visitor’s names carved or marked on stones, rock walls, even stalactites. People, not instagram, are responsible.
Social media has ruined the outdoors.
I think increased popularity of National Parks has to be a good thing. The more interest the public has in the natural world, the more likely at least some of them will use their votes and dollars to preserve natural areas. The big problem is the high concentration of people in limited areas and the poor behavior of visitors. The concentration issue could be addressed by having more natural areas preserved, so that people could spread out more. The behavior issue is going to require education. I love the natural world, but steadfastly avoid the popular areas. Partly because I want to avoid the crowds, but also because as a photographer, I really don't want to be taking the same photos that everybody else has already taken. There is still lots of beauty and wonder to be found in places that aren't on the general publics radar. Of course, she said all this in the video! Good job.
"here we have 'girl out window on dirt road' a classic" lol
This is why I stopped sharing my locations on my videos and photos. I share it with my closest friends and only photographers and film makers I trust to keep
It secret
There's a further issue with photography's impact on the environment. This video deals with social media's influence but there's also the devices being used to capture and edit the photos. Film photography uses masses of water and of course the pollutants created in processing/printing. At least the camera's used are almost totally used so somewhat green. New cameras and gear have a lot of heavy metals and plastics. Phones are also not very green with the materials used. I personally try to buy secondhand wherever possible and rarely buy a new release of a product. Electronic manufacturers need to build in more future proofing and release updates to firmware so customers don't have to buy new products as much. The unibody design ultrabook similar to that of the MacBook also has quite an impact on the environment especially if a new model is released and bought in large numbers every 6 months to a year. I've got a 2014 MacBook Pro and hope to have it for another year or two at least.
What are the tunes in this video!? Need more of them in my life, thanks!
I feel from what I see when I go out being a photographer is people just taking the video or photo just because and not for themselves but almost as proof that they were at this location other people were at. I never geotag any outdoor nature photos because if you want to know where it is go find it for yourself. I do see people not caring about where they are and trampling areas to death just to take a shot or whatnot. I personally do not promote others when i'm out about a great location simply because I do live in LA and people will quickly blow up a secret spot and more importantly destroy it. I think the sad thing beyond the location damage is that people don't get memorable experiences anymore at some of these places because they are caught up trying to take a photo thousands and millions have already took.
Great video
When I went to Zion a few years back and hiked The Narrows it wasn't even fun because the amount of people and their screaming kids there. On my last trip out west I began to enjoy the National Forests more than National parks because you can get away from the crowds.