Why be an "Eco Photographer"? - Alicia Fox Photography, Crescent Head NSW Photographer

Being an Eco Photographer means reducing the environmental impact of every aspect of my business, and working with (i.e. producing photos for) clients that have a positive impact on the environment.

I was trying to formulate an explanation as to why I’ve decided to be an “Eco Photographer” and what this actually means. Then one day three things happened to me and I became so impassioned that I did what anyone would do… I got on my soapbox (i.e. my personal Facebook wall) and shared what I was feeling with my friends and family. I received such an overwhelmingly supportive response that I decided to include my little story on this blog. It gives you an idea of how I live my personal life, which crosses over into my business life. So here it is:

I don’t often put unhappy things on Facebook but I feel the need to share this today It has 3 parts, and hopefully is inspiring:

1. James came home and told me, with a smile, that he had a song stuck in his head all day, the song of some beautiful girls from the Ashaninka tribe we stayed with by Ene River, in the Amazon. Translated, the chorus goes: “Ene River, please take care of me”.

2. At my exhibition of Amazon photos on the weekend, a man came up to me and said, “Did you hear about the Amazonian tribe that can’t drink their water because the oil company poisoned it?”. I said, “Things like that happen all the time in the Amazon… It’s unbelievable!”

3. I went for a walk at lunch (in Sydney) and a man was blowing leaves around the road with a petrol powered leaf blower. He wasn’t actually moving the leaves anywhere in particular, just wasting petrol.I am as much to blame as anyone else for the poisoned water that is making my friends in the Amazon sick. We all use the oil that is being drilled, which is killing the fish, the animals and sometimes the children. Every day I will do what I can to stop supporting the companies that knowingly let this happen. I have given up plastic almost completely, I walk/ride nearly everywhere I go and I try my best in every other way to reduce plastic and petrol consumption. Sorry to be grim, but I just wanted to share this because most people that I talk to about what happens in the Amazon, have no idea. It’s not widely publicised.The good news is that every one of us can make a positive difference. Every time you spend money you endorse what that company is doing…so spend wisely xx That’s all. Good night

(If you would like to hear the beautiful song about Ene River, it begins at 44 seconds in this movie)

YOUTUBE: Photographer, Alicia Fox with the Ashaninka Tribe in the Amazon Jungle, Peru

5 Tips For Being A More Eco Human/Photographer

1. Support local, small businesses. This gives you a chance to meet the people whose company you are supporting, and find out how the products are made/grown. Because it’s local you can walk there (or use less petrol to arrive there).

2. Furnish your house/studio with recycled or upcycled furniture. It’s quite amazing what you can pick up at the op shop or market – people throw away some beautiful things. In a place like Sydney or Melbourne it’s easy to find almost anything you need on the street side. Each day I walk by anything from wide screen TVs to vintage furniture.

3. Use chemical-free cleaning products. With a few simple ingredients (bicarb soda, vinegar and eucalyptus oil) you can cover almost all of your cleaning needs. Using these natural alternatives is also much better for your health.

4. Go paper-free. You can do almost everything online these days.

5. Use a renewable energy plan or solar power.

Why be an “Eco Photographer”?

5 Tips For Being A More Eco Human/Photographer

About the Author

aliciafox