Since photography and the environment are two of my strongest passions, it caught my attention, and I thought I'd share some of it.
There are many, many ways that photographers can reduce their carbon imprints on the environment. Here are a few from the piece:
1. Watch the power. I no longer use any batteries that are not rechargeable. Yes, rechargeables still use juice, too, but they take up less natural resources and have much less impact than throw-away batteries that will sit in a landfill for tens of thousands of years. More on products you can choose in a minute.
2. Choose your power. I still have a lot to learn in this area, and in Philadelphia we still don't have nearly enough choices, but that won't stop me from looking (or asking). I'm looking forward to the day when we live in California, a state where there are many more options, including solar power. I fantasize of the day when I can have solar panels on my roof, powering everything from my printer to my pool (I'm a long way from that, but it's a goal).
3. Recycle everything, from your printer cartridges to old, unwanted equipment. The level of toxic waste in an old, broken printer or flash unit is startling, so it's worth it to dispose of it properly. If disposed of properly, many components and raw materials can be removed of and reused instead of being dumped in a landfill.
4. Shoot locally. Of course, this is often easier said than done, I know, but the little choices can make a bit of a difference. Shooting in your backyard can save on your carbon footprint in many ways, most of all getting vs. on a plane to shoot in a forest somewhere far away, a trip that can belch out plenty of carbon on the plane getting there. And I'm guilty as charged in many ways here - I live in the cradle of democracy - Philadelphia! - and I don't shoot as much as I would like in my own backyard. I'm getting better, but, I'm not going to lie - it's my dream to shoot in Australia and New Zealand some day, as well as many other distant places, but maybe choosing where to shoot when you have a few free hours can be the result of a walk instead of a drive.
5. Conserve energy. There are many more ways to do this than I ever realized: choosing power-saving peripherals and photo equipment; unplugging battery chargers when not in use; turning off printers, monitors, scanners and computers when not in use; and even adjusting your thermostat by one degree can all add up over a year's time.
6. Watch the supplies. If you're still using film (I am not), you can choose chemicals that don't harm the environment. Many chemicals do, but, there are alternatives available. Check silvergrain.org for non-toxic solutions.
7. Green paper. Okay, paper isn't truly green, but you can choose photo paper made from recycled paper, and there are new ones being introduced seemingly every day. One available, which I have not tested yet, is Red River Paper.
8. Choose your companies wisely. As photographers, we are all brand loyal, without question, but consider companies that have environmental initiatives, from recycling to energy use to materials. I'm very pleased that Canon is taking extensive steps to lessen its environmental impact. In the late 80s and early 90s, Canon actually discontinued some popular lenses because of their lead content, and the impact their manufacturing processes had on the environment. Considering the Earth before sales? Bravo!
9. Be a silent activist. And what's meant by that is, with a nod to Ghandi, shoot the change you want to see in the world. There are many examples of photos making a difference in the environmental movement, from the first Earth Rise to pictures in Antarctica to polar bears to local issues. These pictures can and often do make a difference.
10. Spread the word. Please, don't ever think "I'm only one person - what impact could I have?" This type of myopia leaves us all short-changed. Imagine if the founding fathers of America or Martin Luther King, Jr. or some other great difference makers had that point of view. It all begins with you.
11. Buy wisely. Buy great equipment and take care of it. As the piece from American Photo says, "a long-lived camera is environmentally friendly. Do your research, buy great stuff, and treat it right. It takes a great deal of materials, energy and pollutants to make a new camera, and pretty much zero to keep your current one in tip-top shape." Well said.
Speaking of products, there are a number available that are quite friendly to the environment, and I wanted to talk about a few.
The Lowepro Primus AQ is the first-ever weatherproof backpack made from partially recycled material (51 percent). If you're looking for a backpack to shoot in inclement conditions, this one has plenty of room and features. Another cool thing - Lowepro will donate 10 percent of all Primus sales to Polar Bears Internations. It streets for about $250.
These solarroll panels look extremely cool and very useful. These are available in two sizes: 12x57 inches, which puts out about 14 watts, and a 12x40 inch model, with a nine-watt output. Best of all, you can string up to three together for more juice. These are great for recharging laptops, rechargeable batteries, and the like. The draw back is the price - they start at $200. Hopefully, with time, the price will decrease, though. However, over time they would more than pay for themselves. www.brunton.com.
port is revealed - plug it into your laptop for a quick charge. These are useful when you don't have a charger handy (and would Talk about a handy battery - check this one out - it's Moxia Energy's ground-breaking rechargeable battery. Flip open the top and a USBeliminate the need for hauling along one). The best game plan - grab an inexpensive USB hub for your laptop and charge four at once. The company claims these will outlast standard alkaline batteries in digital devices. These run about $20 for two, so again, a little pricey, but these would pay for themselves in no time. www.usbcell.com.
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