A Shot for Respect

The Sierra Club recently hosted a special event for its chapter and non-chapter members at the San Bernardino County Museum. The event featured professional photographer Steve Kaye as he gave a PowerPoint presentation on photography, and offered the audience specific tips on how to take quality photographs of the wilderness. Photography was not the only topic on Mr. Kaye’s agenda; he also expressed the importance of preserving and respecting nature so future generations can experience the beauty that exists in nature. The Sierra Club is an environmental organization which focuses its attention and resources on preserving and defending national landmarks from being destroyed. From the beginning of the clubs creation in 1892, the Sierra Club has preserved and protected 250 million acres of wild-lands and over 11,000 miles of wild and scenic rivers. Even through their accomplishments, the Sierra Club still strives for tougher environmental protections so future generations can enjoy the beauty and wonder nature has to offer. Steve Kaye, who specializes in taking photos of birds and landscapes, offered the Sierra Club members a reason why he takes pictures of nature as well as offering tips for taking beautiful pictures. "Through taking pictures, I hope to inspire respect for nature," Steve said. "So people can begin to respect and take care of it." With nature as the subject of his presentation, Steve presented his audience with several different images of hummingbirds and landscapes he had captured through his interactions in nature. As he displayed his photos, Steve offered simple techniques to help capture nature in its natural form, "Pay attention and travel gently," he said. "And always remember to adjust yourself to nature." "The tips Steve has offered will help with my photography," said Lenette Vaquez, a non-member to the Sierra Club. "And after listening to Steve, I have found a new respect for nature and the beauty she offers." At the conclusion of his presentation, Kaye offered a final piece of advice, aside from his photography tips, "There is a challenge for nature photography. We have to have nature and the amount of wilderness is shrinking. The ease of finding birds is becoming more and more difficult because there are fewer and fewer of them. So we need people, who are champions for nature, wilderness, and the outdoors." This is a challenge which every avid photographer and non-avid photographer should strive to maintain as nature is our home and our future.