Urbanization is both a boon and a bane for inhabitants. On the one hand, while it allows you to reside in extravagant skyscrapers caressing the clouds, on the other hand, they are at the expense of open spaces. While one may overlook the latter’s significance, open spaces—such as national parks, state parks, and other public lands—are intrinsically bound to our prosperity. It’s even more so in the case of photographers. As astounding as it sounds, a new survey demonstrates how unrestricted open spaces are profoundly critical for the blossoming of the photography community.
What is This Survey, And Why Do Open Spaces Matter?
The survey was initiated by the Canadian photo community Flickr, partnered with The Conservation Alliance, an organization working to protect North America’s wild places. Awesome Inc., who conducted the survey on behalf of Flickr, spoke to 1,750 photographers. Belonging to varying backgrounds, each individual was either a weekend hobbyist, a business owner, or a professional photographer who invariably required open spaces for perfecting their craft and earning a livelihood. Thus, the report highlights these natural wonders of the world’s significance for creativity, inspiration, and financial pursuits.
Key Highlights
The report had two noteworthy categories of photographers—client photographers (such as those who capture weddings, family portraits, birthdays, products, and sports) and wildlife, art, and landscape photographers. Of the entire number, 714 particularly belonged to the full- and or part-time professional demography. Here’s what the organization found:
Financial Consequence: A staggering 95% of respondents indicated how a lack of access to open spaces harms their business or passion for the medium. Nine of the ten surveyors’ incomes reportedly came from photographing in open spaces.
“As a small business owner, I don’t have a studio available, which impacts where I need to shoot portrait sessions. I rely heavily on parks, forest preserves, and urban settings to use for my venues.”
—John T. Sobeski, Owner and portrait and landscape photographer, Leigh Thomas Photography.
Fertile Ground of Creativity: Besides being pleasing backgrounds for some of the most memorable moments of their clients’ lives, open spaces are also paramount for nature and travel photography. In fact, much of the majesty of dwindling wildlife or the serenity of the flourishing woodlands are the fundamental needs many of us have. As we permanently can’t be present in the tranquility of the wild, we hang up pictures of the natural world in our cubicles, bedrooms, or dining areas. As a result, nature photography and its other extensions are some of the medium’s most popular genres.
“Without public and Open Spaces, photography services would be limited to customers who have access to private beautiful spaces, and fine art landscape photography would almost cease to exist as we know it because only the wealthy or connected photographers would be able to access these spaces. It is abhorrent to me that even the consideration of closing or restricting these spaces is being contemplated.” —Aaron Yates, landscape photographer, Kerrvillephoto.Com.
Advocates of the Natural World: Let’s face it: as consumerism and capitalism rampantly eradicate nature, there are a few who work tirelessly to safeguard its magnificence. Through visual storytelling, photographers are one such community that displays the abundant joy of nature. Four out of five professional photographers also disclosed how a lack of open spaces would mean losing an integral part of who we are.
“In short, if there are no birds, I cannot take pictures of birds; and if there are no cameras allowed in a space with birds, then the birds cannot be documented, and their stories cannot be shared.” —Kyler Bellwood, bird photographer.
The Urgency of Protecting Open Spaces
In conclusion, the report stands between us and the utter destruction of the labor of love American photographers place in their businesses. Considering all the tribulations one endures, we must appeal to federal, state, and local leaders to protect and preserve these gems before irreversible damage is done.