Vol
7 No 2
Aug 2000
The Truth
about Grass
Butterfly-Plant Relationships
List of butterflies
(1999-2000)
Beauty to Behold how animals see
More about the eyes of animals
Nesting Birds
at Sungei Buloh
Nesting
Little Heron
A walk with a Volunteer Guide: Keith Hillier
Nature Photographer
with a Mission:
Julian Wong
Earth Day Programmes
Nature in
the City |
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Nature
Photographer
with a Mission |
hu
julian wong
Park Volunteer
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Photography by itself is an art form that requires a lot of patience,
determination and dedication from the photographer. Attention to detail
and careful approach to the subject is especially true for those who
are pursuing an interest in nature photography. Yet how many of these
photographers actually understand the true essence of nature photography? |
Julian
Wong, a nature lover and a volunteer of the Park, started nature photography
in 1997. He hopes that through his images, people can come to appreciate
the boundless beauty of Nature. In his free time, he likes to pen
down his thoughts and observations on nature conservation and photography. |
I
heard from a friend who had seen on a location shoot, a small group
of photographers cutting away branches and leaves of a particular
bush, so as to enable them to take pictures of pigeon nesting within.
Being a self-professed naturalist; he chided the photographers for
not being "nature-friendly". Although he managed to stop
this one incident, it set me thinking. How many such incidents can
be stopped in time? What the photographers did not realise was that
by cutting away the branches and leaves, they were actually exposing
the bird and its chicks or eggs to predators. The pigeon had used
the bush as an effective camouflage, only to be destroyed by the thoughtless
act of humans. Nature photographers should respect the subject they
photograph and not cause unnecessary stress or inconvenience to them.
To the self-professed nature photographer, it is imperative that he
observes the ecological balance of Mother Nature and abides by the
natural law that is guarding our atmosphere. Photographers are often
seen in public and any wilful or discriminating act will certainly
instil a "monkey-see-monkey-do" concept to the passer-by.
Photographers can be good ambassadors to the general public if only
they can understand the subject that they want to photograph and not
proceed beyond certain limits just to get that ultimate shot. Images
can paint a thousand words and using the right images could just enlighten
someone out there to care more about our fragile environment.
So the next time you pick up a camera and come in contact with Mother
Nature, think about the mission that you would be embarking on. It
is only through awareness and genuine love for nature that you will
truly "blossom" into a better "natural" photographer. |
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