Ethics and content statement

I endeavour to follow my fairly simple Code of Ethics (updated 2024.01) as stated here.

Social

• I keep rare species safe and intact by not publishing or broadcasting the location of fragile areas, plants or animals.
• I keep locations safe and intact by not publishing or broadcasting their location for the selfie and influencer crowd to swarm over and destroy.
• I remove GPS data from my images before sharing them with others.
• In very rare cases, if absolutely necessary to protect a sensitive location I may use tools and methods to alter images sufficiently to make them unsearchable in reverse image searches tools.
• I avoid stopping to photograph if it is likely to start a chain reaction resulting in cellphonie snappers crowding into the area.

Environment

• I inform myself about all rules and regulations relating to photography when visiting a natural area or public attraction.
• I stay on designated paths and trails. If there is no trail, I follow proper etiquette by following the principles of Leave No Trace.
• I inform myself about the plants and animals I intend to photograph prior to visiting the locations.

Self

• I am an ambassador of ethical conduct in the industry through my own behaviour 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.

Content

All content presented on this website, YouTube and other social media, is my personal opinion or work.
Based on my experiences and obviously coloured by a preference bias I have developed over the many years.

Reviews/Sponsors/Endorsements/Advertising

In all cases if I post an article it will contain my personal and real opinion,
if for any reason I cannot do that the entry will not be posted.

Reviews

If I do a review it is based on a product or service
I have purchased and actually make or made (since things evolve over time) use of.

Affiliations/sponsors

If I am affiliated with or sponsored by a product or service It will be stated and
made clear at the start of  the short dissertation about the product or service.

Solicited Product Articles/Reviews

At times products show up or services are offered in return for our opinion and/or a descriptive article
placement on our site, blog or social media. These will only be done if I am free to
state my real opinion of said product or service and it will be made clear at the start that the
entry was requested by the vendor and is not of a product or service I had actually previously purchased.

Endorsements

I will never endorse a product I don’t personally use and like.

Advertising

I am not fond of the constant bombardment by advertising seemingly everywhere, in fact I go out of my way to avoid encountering any.
And I try to keep the website clear of superfluous advertisements as much as possible

For the most part all equipment I use in my photography and may mention in posts or videos I have purchased and own.
And I admit I used to be a gear head and computer nerd, both of which have drastically changed.