Travel Ethics

Everyone has a different approach to travel, and often a different reason for travelling. Ask the question 'what is an ethical traveller or a responsible traveller' and for every person asked the answer will be different (and so possibly the spelling of the word traveller - is it traveller or traveler!). For Gail and her partners at Responsible Photography, the question is all about who we are and how we behave - it is our actions whilst travelling that define us.

An open mind - being receptive and unprejudiced is invaluable in making the most of any travel experience.
Attitude crosses Countries, Economies, Cultures, Heritages and Environments. It's about each individual, and the impression they leave behind.
Awareness - is about being aware of what's around us - nature, birdlife and wildlife, our natural riches and the negative influence we have on the natural world - and what we'll leave behind for future generations.
Impact - is about the impact we have on the world we live in, it's about social and economic demands, it's about the impact we have on the people we meet , the impact of our actions, the impact of our behaviour, the impact of our choices.
Pay fairly - pay a fair price, not too much, not too little. Have fun bartering but do always pay a fair price for what you buy.
Respect can mean so many things, but when we're travelling it's about respecting people - their traditions, different cultures, religious views or morals, their homeland, environment, nature and wildlife, and their natural resources.
Responsible Photography - is about being considerate with your attitude and approach to photography. Please read our page Responsible Photographers. ©Gail Ward/Responsible Photography

What to wear
Wearing appropriate clothes can make all the difference to how you are treated when travelling overseas, especially for women, and especially when travelling to some of the places responsible photography holidays take you to. If you are looking forward to integrating with local people and communities on your photography holiday, then our guidelines on what to wear and what not to wear will help you pack the right sort of clothes to make sure you respect local customs and traditions.

Responsible Photography™

A tourist group brandishing cameras, each trying to outdo the other and get the best shot, zooming in on people going about their daily lives without any consideration, making people give inappropriate demonstrations or ceremonies, speeding up to a village furiously snapping away or crowding round a sleeping Cheetah in minibuses to make sure the 'big 5' are all snapped. There's a huge difference between a 'voyeuristic snapper' and a 'responsible photographer'. Travelling on your own, or in a very tiny group is far more rewarding, resulting in an experience that is not always just about photography, but about the whole experience with memories to cherish - that is what we hope you will enjoy about travelling with Responsible Photography Holidays.

We follow our local partners guidelines on photography. Our local partners, guides and Gail have long term connections with the places we visit, the people we meet and the different projects.
We try to make sure that local people and projects get to see some of the photographs we take during our photography holiday. If you do promise to send someone a photograph you have taken of them, please do, don't just say it and then forget.
When travelling with a camera be open, talk to people, ask if they mind you taking their photograph, ask an adult's permission before photographing a child, respect their answers and wishes. How would you like it if, going about your daily tasks, someone sticks a camera in your face, clicks the shutter a few times and then just walks on. It's not on is it?
Take into account cultural and social customs.
Don't disturb wildlife or birdlife just to get a more interesting shot.
Please think about what you do with your photographs when you get home. Is it responsible to put your photographs, especially photographs of people, on a social website which may give unrestricted 'usage rights' to the website owner. Is it right to enter a competition that exploits use of your image, or worse still, exploits the person you photographed? Responsible Photography Holidays information copied from their weibsite.

©Gail Ward

Cultural, Environmental and Conservation Issues

Managing the environment is challenging for developing Countries that are trying to maximise their tourism revenue. For example, many mountain communities in Morocco rely on village taps for water, whilst golf tourism uses gallons of water and pesticides. In Ethiopia and Morocco local people walk miles to collect water, and irrigating their land is a huge challenge.

Tourism developments, whether built in cities and towns or in stunning locations, all mpact on limited natural resources. Accommodation, restaurants, swimming pools, golf courses, and lots more tourism facilities take precedence for water supplies over the local population. They can also take precedence over location, with local people losing their homes and land, wildlife displaced, and the natural flora, fauna and trees hacked down. The stunning landscapes and fascinating cultures that tempt us to a Country can often be to the detriment of the local people, wildlife, nature, flora and fauna.

Lots of tourism workers, many of whom are children, are exploited, experience poor working conditions and do not earn a fair wage. The answer is to plan, manage and develop tourism in a sustainable way that protects the environment and livelihoods for the future of both the local people and tourism. When you are travelling, please be responsible with local resources, dispose of rubbish and waste appropriately and if you are concerned by something you see, please let us know.

Buying locally produced or crafted goods where the money goes directly to the people who made them, or buying from local markets and shops is one way that you can make sure local people benefit from your holiday money. In the UK an organisation called Tourism Concern actively campaigns on tourism and human rights issues - visit their website link to become more informed on the issues and dilemmas facing the Tourism Industry. During a Responsible Photography Holidays you'll visit projects and meet people who use their traditional skills, culture or initiative to generate income.