Conservation photography documents wildlife to inspire protection, but the process of getting close enough for compelling images can itself harm the animals being depicted.
Conservation photography occupies a paradox: it aims to inspire protection while potentially harming the subjects it depicts. The welfare-conscious photographer applies the same minimum disturbance principles as a field researcher: approach slowly, maintain appropriate distance, never approach nests with eggs or young chicks, never use playback calls during breeding season, and never bait predators with live prey. The most compelling conservation photography is often achieved through patience and knowledge of animal behaviour rather than technology and proximity. Photographers who share their ethical protocols alongside their images model good practice for the photography community.