Join/Renew   Currents Newsletter   Regional Resources   Document Library   Speaker's Bureau   President's Page   Member Survey   Membership Info	President's Message January/February, 2001 Are we a photographic organization or an environmental advocacy group? by Connie Bransilver, President We joined NANPA because we are, first, dedicated to photography, but in particular, photography of our natural environment. Many members of NANPA feel very strongly that we must be a photographic organization alone, not an environmental organization. Others feel equally strongly that we must be an activist environmental organization. The middle ground is the path our Board - and I, as your President in 2001 - hope to traverse. Each one of us is driven by a love and passion for our natural environment as we define and view it. As artists we want and need a canvas with eye appeal, emotional appeal - in short, we seek natural beauty. But too often we see assaults on our environment and we are driven to act. If we are at all passionate about our work we are most assuredly passionate about preservation of our environment. NANPA's mission rests on education, ethical conduct, and environmental protection. We can and should share information about issues of environmental protection and how NANPA members can effectively become involved in environmental causes. We do this through Currents, the web site, email, networking, our choice of speakers at our Summits, and any other way we can. Our members, using their craft as a weapon, can be very effective activists as they work through whatever organizations they choose to support. When it involves the freedom to practice our craft, NANPA, as an organization, can and should take the lead. For many of our members to photograph wild places in this country, it is essential that we have access to public lands. NANPA has effectively advocated free access for still photographers. Let us, then, continue to be passionate about preserving our workplace and our world and attempt to right wrongs promulgated against critters, plants, waters, skies, and the land itself. Through NANPA, let us learn to be increasingly effective in crafting strong, evocative images. Let us share information through NANPA, then let us use that strength strategically to achieve our individual environmental goals. Each of us is powerful. We visually define the natural world for many millions. We must recognize our enormous ability to influence attitudes. We should use that power effectively. Back to President's Page         Site Index       Search       Disclaimers       Contact Us   North American Nature Photography Association 10200 West 44th Avenue, Suite 304 Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-2840, USA Phone: 303-422-8527 Fax: 303-422-8894 E-mail: info@nanpa.org   © 2001 All Rights Reserved