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Bruna Mentrup posted in the group Wildlife Photography
Photographers:
Strip GPS Data from Your Photos to Protect Wildlife
Most of us will have shared photos of animals online, or just “behind the scenes” shots whilst out on location, without a second thought. But your smartphone, and some cameras, are embedding GPS data into these images by default. This GPS data can, unfortunately, be detrimental to sensitive wildlife.
It has moved the spotlight onto a serious problem. Collectors, poachers, and other wildlife exploiters are using the internet to scout new locations for capturing and killing wildlife.
“Collectors certainly use Instagram, forums, and other online resources to find new populations to pillage,”. “There’s a real risk of harm to individuals and populations.”
Luckily, some social media websites seem to strip metadata from photos as they are uploaded, but not all of them. This means that GPS coordinates are removed and locations are protected. This is not the case for images posted of forums, image-sharing websites, personal blogs, and other locations.
But it’s not just GPS data that is problematic. Sharing images with identifiable landmarks is also an issue, as well as social media posts that are tagged with locations themselves when posted from mobiles.
What can you do?
Turn off GPS locations on your camera and smartphone. Don’t allow this information to be embedded, and you won’t run the risk of exposing sensitive animals to malicious individuals.
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Bruna Mentrup
TUTOR
I started my wildlife photography journey with nothing but a passion for capturing what I had seen unfold before me for years.
Determined I could achieve that, I set out with the most basic equipment, and eventually, my efforts were rewarded.
I, fortunately, love travel and being in my own company, so I spend months on the road in perfect partnership with the animals, great light, and the landscape. My confidence grew, and my images started to speak for themselves; so did my range of equipment, as did the awards.
My proudest moment was being made a Licentiate by the Photography Society of South Africa. I take so much pride in the steps I have taken, and it gives me such joy to see my work in magazines and hanging on walls of game lodges across Africa.
My philosophy is that anyone can acquire technical skills in photography. Still, you need heart, passion and a deep connection with what is around you to capture the finest of what Mother Nature has on offer.
