R-E-S-P-E-C-T Respect

Respect, it seems to be a rare commodity these days.  In the words of Aretha Franklin, "All I'm askin' is a little respect..."  I not asking for respect for myself, but for not only nature, but for the people and facilities that try their best to provide us with natural places.  The venues provide photographers a place to photograph nature and for others a place to enjoy the tranquility and peace of a natural setting.

This was driven home to me yesterday while I was photographing at Mrs. Lee's Garden (www.daffodilgarden.com) near Gladewater, Texas.  This is an amazing place - an 816 acre farm that has 28 or so acres planted in daffodils.  Mrs. Helen Lee provided in her will that this garden be open to the public for everyone to enjoy the natural beauty of God's world.  And volunteers keep the grounds in good shape and open to the public during the daffodil blooming season.  All they ask is a donation at the gate and that everyone follow a few simple rules - don't walk on or sit on and especially DON"T PICK the flowers.

As I sat on the ground with my macro lens, I couldn't help overhearing a couple of volunteers talking.  One was telling the other how he had just witnessed a woman picking the flowers and then trying to hide them behind her back as she walked away.  His reaction was much gentler than mine would have been.  He simply told her to get in her car and drive out the gate without stopping.

This woman showed disrespect to not only the volunteer, the garden itself, and the memory of Mrs. Lee, but also to nature itself.   We've all heard the explanation, "if everyone picked just one flower..." but to me it goes much deeper than that - it represents a lack of civility that is rampant in our world today.

An egregious  example of disrespecting private property and those who provide natural areas for us to enjoy is in the April 1997 issue number 46 of the Photograph America Newsletter.  Robert Hitchman has published this newsletter for over 20 years and many photographers, including myself, use it to "pre-scout" areas to photograph before we arrive there.  I do believe that Mr. Hitchman means no malice by his article but it still shows an incredible amount of disrespect.  Issue 46 is devoted to the Texas Hill Country in springtime with the Bluebonnet and Paintbrush bloom.  There is a well known road called the "Willow City Loop" which is private and crosses mostly unfenced property.  The residents allow traffic to use the road but ask that you don't stop either on the road or on the mostly non-existent shoulder - which obviously makes photography all but impossible.  But it is their private property and they allow us at least to drive through and enjoy the beauty.

Mr. Hitchman reported how another photographer told him that he had been there the day before and the Sheriff had moved all the photographers out of the road sides and made them drive on.  This clearly indicates that the request isn't just from the residents but is in fact, the law.  Mr. Hitchman then describes how he went to the road, stopped and got out and set up his tripod and camera.  After he stopped, several other cars stopped and did the same.  He seemed amused that it was just a case of no one wanted to be the first to stop and that the Sheriff must of had other things to do that day.  Then he made matters worse by encouraging others to do the same because you probably won't have any trouble from the Sheriff during the middle of the week.

Shame Mr. Hitchman.  To be a photographer and set such a poor example.  I have found after photographing for many years in Texas, that almost all private property is posted with no trespassing allowed.  But the wonderful thing about private property owners of areas with natural beauty, is that they love sharing it with others.  In most instances, all you need to do is just ask the owner if may take photographs on his property.  In the years I have been doing this I have only been turned down a couple times.  They are usually happy to share.  Or maybe they are just so surprised that someone asked that they didn't know how to say no.

I am still a subscriber to the Photograph America Newsletter and plan on being as long as it is published. Mr. Hitchman made an error in this case but he still provides a quality product that I highly recommend.  Visit his website at www.photographamerica.com.

In any case, always respect not only nature but the land owners who protect it.

Bill Plunkett