I recently wrote an article asking photographers to stop tagging locations of outdoor photographs. Here's a follow-up to that piece, with a great supplemental video from Vox.
After writing the initial article asking photographers to stop tagging specific locations on social media, I was honestly stunned while reading the comments. First, this isn't a new idea or proposal: Leave No Trace, a center for outdoor ethics, recently released social media guidelines as a framework for helping to protect the great outdoors. Additionally, there seemed to be about a 70/30 split of opinion within those who commented on the original article, the majority leaning toward the idea that this is a made-up issue and that not tagging locations won't do anything to help the issue of overcrowding and misuse of natural and public spaces.
As landscape and nature photographers, I was honestly surprised that most people didn't view geotagging as an issue. With so many of us constantly outside photographing the natural world, I'm genuinely in awe that more people don't notice the effect we have on public lands. I was especially shocked that most people didn't see a correlation between posting locations on social media and the amount of people that subsequently visit said locations.
One general consensus within the majority of people who disagreed was that myself and others who withhold specific locations on social media are elitists or even arrogant, entitled, or condescending. But this is far from the truth. As someone who has spent and spends more time in my life between the pines than on city streets, I feel an innate sense of duty to help protect the natural world, because it means so much to me. I've hiked for my entire life in the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York, and have worked on a professional trail crew for two summers in the very same park to help give back to the place that has given me so much. Further, I've traveled to many national parks and public lands in the United States, including but not limited to Yosemite, Yellowstone, the Great Smoky Mountains, the Rocky Mountains, and Acadia National Park. Throughout all of this, I've seen firsthand the effect we've had on the land in a rather short period of time.
I do realize and can understand why others are mad or annoyed at the idea of not having a location handed to them. Everyone should be able to visit a location and get the pictures they have in mind, especially places on public lands. All myself and others that share my mindset are asking is that we think twice before sharing exact locations because this can have detrimental impacts on the land and can forever negatively change and shape landscapes. Besides, in order to find a spot, many of us have had to pull out a map, do our own research, or just serendipitously stumble upon a location. Many of us also did not have the exact coordinates of the locations handed to us.
This video created by Vox showing what happens when nature goes viral does a fantastic job explaining the negative effects that geotagging specific locations on social media can have. Vox uses Horseshoe Bend as its prime example, explaining how geotagging on social media has forever changed the visitor experience and the landscape at this particular location. Vox interviews locals at and near this location to get firsthand accounts of how the explosion in popularity due to social media geotagging has affected the landscape.
Sometimes, the final destination isn't the only part misused. Here is an example of trail widening and erosion in the Adirondacks. The original trail is in the center. Educating others and sharing Leave No Trace principles, such as staying on marked trails, can help alleviate damage in the woods.
Another aspect to this video that is worth discussing is the fact that in order to compensate for an increasing number of visitors, the Park Service and city officials near Horseshoe Bend are planning to build a large parking lot and welcome center. They're also planning to build a new trail and safety railings to help protect the natural landscape. While the building of new trails and barriers is commendable, I wonder what the effect of this will be. If more people continue to visit the area, will the Park Service and other officials continue to build more parking spaces to accommodate these guests? Or will a permitting system appear? How many people and footprints can the land realistically handle? As a park official states in the video, this is a difficult balance.
Being a photographer who shares work on Instagram and other social media platforms, I'm always conscious of the catch-22: how do we promote people to have their own outdoor experiences, which will hopefully lead them to become future stewards of the land, while also not loving natural and public places to death? Hence, Leave No Trace's social media guidelines. When I do post locations on Facebook, Instagram, or any number of online apps, I'm sure not to tag a specific location, but rather the park or state, if one at all. Further, I do my best to share Leave No Trace principles, such as packing in what you pack out, staying on a hiking trail, respecting wildlife, etc. It sounds like a miniscule effort and change, but just like if every individual person stopped throwing their one piece of trash on the ground, this change can have lasting consequences.
As Leave No Trace states: "social media, if used the right way, is a powerful tool that can motivate a nation of outdoor advocates to enthusiastically and collectively take care of the places we share and cherish." Please take a few minutes to watch this informative video that further explains why we shouldn't be geotagging our nature photographs.
You really think not geotagging pictures keeps even one person who wants to find the place from doing so? A simple reverse picture search of pretty much any landscape picture in google immediately provides the location of said place. You seem to think in the mindset of the eighties. This train has left the station. We have to think about how to preserve those places as good as possible ALTHOUGH thousands of ppl visit them. And this does not only apply to remote areas but also to places people live in, as a nice picture position in a small village somewhere in the alps and its inhabitants also deserve protection.
It's probably not going to solve the issue but it means someone who wants to go there will have to do more work and maybe the lazy people who wouldn't care for the trail would be too lazy to try find it. Minimizing impact through multiple efforts would add up.
Any barrier for entry is going to help at least in some small way.
TRUE, it is not going to bring location damage to a screeching halt. There is much, much more that needs to be done to ensure the best possible preservation. Namely, we need to raise our kids to actually respect the outdoors, instead of taking the "someone else will clean up after me, that's what my tax dollars are for" attitude. We need to teach kids (and young adults, if they're still willing to learn) that it's not OK to just go wandering off-trail in the most popular parks, especially in areas where the soil is delicate and prone to erosion.
And so on and so forth. In short, you're right, a cessation of geotagging would NOT completely solve the problem. However, it's still going to help a little bit.
If it's that easy to find out the location of a photo via a Google search, I'm genuinely curious if you can tell me where is the cover photo of this article from?
Tim I am with you 100%. I have seen it first hand here in Massachusets in relation to a FORMER snowy owl habitat and in other areas of New England. If people would do a bit of proper research before they go out shooting in wildlands they might just stay wild a little longer. Like you I want to see people experience the great outdoors, I just don't want to see them rape it for the sake of a simple photograph. Unfortunately we live in an instant gratification society and many people don't seem to want to put in the effort to do the right thing. Thanks for taking the time to get the word out.
Keep fighting the good fight!
yeah its a problem but reckon for the new generation of ME its all about ME
I found it its MINE
this happened some time ago on Maui where I am from (moved to mainland a while ago sadly) and some places said no more where you had to cross private land but people did not care and do not care then wonder why they get beat up or their car vandalized ?
but its hard to stop really and trust me the ONLY reason most of you new folks went to this place cause YOU saw it somewhere else
I do agree its out of hand but its the fault of the very trendy people that are trying to stop it ironic huh !
I always geotag my picture to the closest garbage landfill or nuclear plant...
I agree with this article, I tag the general area (ie park name type of thing). I wandered about and found something cool, you do the same. It’s not that I want the hidden gem to be “mine”, it’s because I want the hidden gem to stay a gem and not become yet another parking lot. Too many people take shit for granted and leave trash all over the place or break down an old tree / epic rock ledge because they this angle will be slightly better looking. That’s just how people are.
That's the thing that was suggested last time.
But does it really change anything?
Let's say you tag "Zion National Park" instead of "Angles Landing" (randomly chosen), people will still go to Zion and then start walking around. Potentially causing more harm to nature than if it was tagged the exact location and they would just straight go there.
Why are you/we tagging in the first place? So that our picture can be found more easily?
The only logical solution would be not to tag at all.
Comments on this article is really something to see. Some of you folks are a ray of sunshine on a cloudy day. Ego much?? If someone wants to know where I took a photo, I will tell them, however, I will not tell them how I got there. There are some places I deem secret, mainly for historical reasons, and because of these reasons not to let the wrong crowd in with their spray paint writing Dave loves Jane or some other stupid shit. Where I understand what Tim is trying to convey in this article, I do not understand why so many in this comment section is so disrespectful to his concerns.
Thank you. I think that's a solid philosophy to follow regarding this topic.
Some of the photos I take are a no brainer when it comes to location on the coast of California. But there is some areas along the coast I deem secret. The reaction from some people when they ask and I don't tell them can be a little testy. Mainly because of the historical aspect but also for the wildlife. Not to mention, I have spent years studying the coast. The tide, waves, current ect. I have been washed out twice. I really do not want to send any Tom, Dick and Mary to some of these locations by telling them where when they really do not know what they are getting themselves into. It is more of a conscious decision. I liked your article Tim. Keep writing them.
I agree in that the topic goes beyond environmental concerns and can even extend to others' safety. Even the most experienced in a location can have life-threatening moments, not to mention the inexperienced or those unfamiliar with the terrain. I think that people should be able to go where they want to go, but don't think anyone on social media who is posting photos of locations owes anyone a free pass to that place. I think you have a good mindset for it and a good thing going. Thanks for the comment and insight!
Well those comments sure escalated quickly.
I think the issue is of geotagging is overblown personally. Its not likely that many people will ever look at a geotag and take the time to actually go to that place, let alone destroy it. The ratio of people who say "cool picture" and keep swiping to those that go there (solely based on a geotagged pic) and do any real harm is probably 1:1,000,000. So if you feel personally better about not tagging, fine go ahead and leave the tags off, but it's not something you'll convince many people is worthy of a discussion, let alone 2 published articles.
Yes, statistically speaking, the ratio of bad apples to "neat pic!" commenters is astronomical.
However, the whole point of this recent trend is that social media is in fact spreading word about specific spots at an extremely rapid pace, and these places are indeed being over-trafficked, often by people who simply don't respect the outdoors.
Large format film photographer Ben Horne recently shared a snapshot of this type of disrespect, which I think is very telling indeed: https://www.instagram.com/p/BpVxQYJFGdW/
Comments definitely did escalate, haha. But did you watch the video? It essentially proves there's a direct correlation between posting a location and crowds visiting said location..
Interesting article... unfortunately geotagging is not the problem.
The reality is that it has become too easy to find and visit these places regardless of how they discover it, geotagging or other. In doing so it opens these places up to the average visitors among who are people who really don't give a sh*t and will indiscriminately trample and trash whatever they touch.
The options are that either controls are put into place (paved walkways, designated areas, limited numbers, etc.) or the site is off-limits completely or we just complacently let it be destroyed.
The video does show that geotagging, in fact, is part of the problem..
ARGH. I don't understand why people don't understand this.
Let me break it down for you very simply, folks:
Nobody's stopping you from going anywhere. That's what actual laws, fences, permit fees. etc. are for.
Social media is not a barrier, nor does it owe you anything. So it isn't at all "elitist" for someone to withold the location of a beautiful landscape, or anything else.
This "secret-keeper" is merely leaving in place the SAME barrier for entry that they themselves had to overcome.
If anything, that's the definition of equality and fairness, NOT elitism or exclusivity.
So, get that silver spoon out of your mouth, and stop begging for a handout. It makes you sound entitled, and smells a lot like victimism.
Go do the work to find cool places on your own. Most are easy enough to find. And when you do find them, practice Leave No Trace, and only share the location with those you can personally trust to do the same.
Thanks for the comment and insight, Matt. I'm sharing the same frustration! Keep fighting the good fight.
That's great that so many more people are getting out and seeing such natural wonders, and that the National Parks people and others have good plans and resourcing to manage these things well.
I've never geotagged a photo before, but if geotagging is assisting with both those things, then I'm all for it.
The point is, Simon, that many of the most popular National Parks do NOT have strong enough infrastructure to handle the crowds, and pick up their mess afterwards.
In places like Yosemite and Zion, it is getting absolutely out of control. Yes, increased visitation means increased revenue, however, the timetable for maintenance and improvements simply isn't able to keep up with the pace of social media and the general popularity of getting outdoors. That, plus the fact that as visitation increases, inevitably with it come more bad apples who leave trash everywhere, trample off-trail into delicate areas, and even worse, get themselves into trouble which often costs SAR etc. tons of money.
So, yes, share your images and encourage people to get outside. However, whenever you do this, be sure to also remind everyone to practice LNT principles, and to make sure their total impact is never so great that it will cause future generations to be unable to see the same thing you did.
Well the main example shown in the video was at Horseshoe Bend, where the huge increase in visitor numbers has resulted in great resourcing, to enable a lot more people to visit, and for the environment to be maintained well. The video attributed this successful outcome to the rise of social media and to geotagging.
When visitor numbers rose sufficiently at Horseshoe Bend, it justified much better resourcing. It seems that in other places we should also be encouraging more visitation, not less, to enable this successful resourcing to be replicated elsewhere.
And so, if geotagging aids this end, surely we should be encouraging geotagging rather than discouraging it.
I don't think the infrastructure at Horseshoe bend should entirely be seen as a positive thing. Yes, it's helping an increasing number of people access the location, but it's also changing the nature of the place entirely.
Yeah, it definitely changes the nature of the experience there, although clearly it is still a naturally beautiful place after the changes.
But one thing is for sure - the fact that so many more people are enjoying the beautiful location, and the fact that the environment there is much better protected now, does not constitute "clear evidence" that we should stop geotagging such places. The presented evidence indicates that geotagging clearly has great upsides, which arguably overwhelmingly outweigh the downsides.
The added infrastructure at Horseshoe Bend is largely because people are idiots and can't stay on an official trail, can't stay away from sheer cliffs, and can't help throwing litter on the ground, etc.
Yes, the visitation has spiked at Horseshoe, however the pathway and railings etc. might not have been necessary if human beings could have refrained from behaving badly. All you /really/ needed was a slightly bigger parking lot and a few more toilets & trash cans at the trailhead, with regular service.
Having said that, it's still a lot better at Horseshoe than in other places, indeed. There are examples of other places which are truly suffering because they can't keep up with the increased traffic.
It is a sad fact that some people are negligently destructive idiots. That's the real problem here.
It’s fine if Tim doesn’t want to geotag but I think it’s fine if others do. It’s Tims photograph and not the Geotag that’s drawing people to the location. If the area is sensitive maybe he shouldn’t post the photo. Once one person finds it , a second one does and then a third and then there is a path. The guided photography tours find it and they all advertise then the general public is interested. It starts with Tims first photo but of course he will publish as he needs to put food on the table. He’s not going to risk some other photographer doing it first.
You're right, perhaps myself and others should reconsider posting a photo at all. It's definitely a catch-22.
Trey Ratcliffe's "Stuck on Earth" app was launched on apple phones for that purpose, I'm not sure if it still runs (I have Android). I think Google Earth has such a feature, too.
Thanks for geo-tagging Grand Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Antelope Canyon, Baja Desert, the Brooklyn Bridge, the Acropolis, Lake Moraine, Matterhorn, because otherwise people wouldn't be able to find them :D
In case people don't get my sarcasm, I meant that famous locations are already known to most people and don't need you to geo-tag them to be able to find them.
Think Horseshoe Bend which is the location being "civilized" is an unknown location to the public ?
Really ?
Those places will be crowded no matter what.
"simpler" places like a nice vantage point in a forest not so well known might be "pure" and not frequently visited and most definitely not by masses of people, but even with geo-tagging it will still be "clear" of big crowds because of the hike to get there and the smaller motivation ( it's different compared to the "power" a well known landmark like the Eiffel Tower for example ).
The only thing people need to get accustomed to is DO NOT HARASS nature.
Leave no trace and behave.
No, a fireplace in a dense vegetation area is not a good idea, just don't.
We need to make people care about nature and at least not trash it with their left-overs and spray paint or carve their names or whatever.
This is what needs to be done.
Not trying to hide something that is easily figured out.
Well put.
What i am shocked about is the amount of anger over this subject. Places being over ridden with people is a multi element problem. Photography has become extremely popular because generally cost of equipment is in the reach of a lot more people than ever before. The amount of groups, workshops has grown because professional photographers need them to make a living (and there is a lot more "professional photographers" doing this and then of course there is geo tagging. I do agree that there is a problem with droves of people turning up at iconic viewpoints i have had many disappointing experiences myself. Unfortunately i can see the writing on the wall in that fences, barriers will likely be placed at some of these places when more people get injured, spoiling the natural setting for everyone On the subject of geo tagging i would err on the side of taking it off we didnt used to have it and if u really wanted to find out where a place is u can easily find out with little research. However i dont think that doing so will have a big impact There r 8 billion people on the planet and many many areas of our everyday lives r impacted because of it. The damage and debris in parks i would say is more about the increase of people who hike. It is def harder to be alone anywhere outside at the weekends. Just be nice, that doesnt harm anyone.
Multi element problem. But i would say that most technology companies and goverments dont think or care about the consequences when the technology hits the marketplace. And the parks have to share responsibility here. It makes the situation worse if they pave the roads, parking areas and put centers at these out of the way places. Leave them alone. I would also add though that organized photographic groups and workshops r also part of the problem, that this problem is not confined to the general punter with a cell phone.
Tim, a very bold opinion, I never thought about it. Truth, for me was strange to hear, that there is this kind of the problem. As a child I grew up near the city, at my grandfather's ranch and moved to the metropolis recently. I have always been raised so that nature is your most loyal ally and that it always gives you as much as you are willing to give it. Me and my colleagues at https://papercheap.co.uk once dealt with this issue. According to our observations, which were made on the basis of more than 10 thousand people we interviewed, it all depends on the people and the environment in which they are. If the whole society is set up to protect nature-the majority will follow this.
I agree. When looking at European and other countries that put a higher emphasis on nature and nature preservation, I see a clear correlation to the health of the land in that country. (Thinking Scotland and Iceland as two examples). I think that our nation and leaders could definitely do more to put nature and its health as a priority, but don't think that'll happen anytime soon, unfortunately. I think it's now in the hands of the general public to more highly-regard nature, its benefits, and beauty.
Here's a thought: don't post those super cool location photos on social media. I wouldn't accuse anyone in particular of this but it sounds a lot like, "Look how cool I am and all the cool places I go to" with only an after-thought of "Well, I didn't Geotag it!"
Actually I never quite got the point of Geotagging anyway. Why is it so important for folks to inform others as to their exact location? Propably the GPS function is just enabled and people leave it at that, but I also think it has more to do with trying to be authentic. "I was here and I can prove it because I got my GPS.". It would really suffice, as the author notes, to say like "I was in the Appalachians" or "I'm at Cedar ridge.".
The problem of how many people will entrance a Park e.x Zion Park, is on Parks Officers/Rangers/etc.
If they thing the park is overcrowded then they must set a max entranced per day.
-Horseshoe Bend belong to Navaho Nation, now Park service got their "power" there. They saw that there is a change of getting more money from there so they build it as a Park Service, sure also for protection but still there are lot of money... If they care truly about the nature they will put some limits to people / day.
-Also there must a separation, are we talking about the States are general in the World?
The States got many people on their Nature sites, unlikely Europe that most of people are going on the Cultural sites, USA got lot of National Parks. People are going to Horseshoe bend just like going onto Eiffel Tower or to Acropolis.
-Now, if I / We Geo-tag something here on Europe it's not going to be so Crowded cause there are lot of other places to go. What I'm trying to say, is that lot of States got their "Jules" in Nature and not in the Cities
-Yes, the States have to Protect their Nature, but still, it's a Tourist attraction. Perhaps it's time for US to get a Ministry of Tourism under the Ministry of Environment.
On Top of not regulating the visitors count the National Park pass or whatever it was called is ridiculously cheap.
I mean 80$ for a year for all parks? And that's not even per person but per car. Make it double or triple that for tourists and they will still come, with the extra money going into the protection of the parks.
Edit: The geo-tag /location hype is a problem outside of the USA too. Just look at Iceland that gets completely overrun by tourists. Or sites like the Dolomites where you don't need an alarm clock cause you will be woken up by the sound of a dozen starting drones at sunrise.
Yeah, Iceland also got some problems. But it's up to them, to keep the crowed in or out of the site of interest.
The place is already recognizable, just like Easter Island, Machu Picchu, Chichen itza etc.
The world is just getting smaller, and it has been photograph almost everywhere.
That's not going to change!
-If they would like to same the Nature they must put some limits to people per day, and they must rise up the price of the entrance. 30$-40$ per Person, per entrance, per Park is ok. The annual ticket could be 180$ per person. Yes, 80$ is way to small!
Also they must set a Photographer price ticket. Anyone with tripod or any Pro Equipment should pay much more money to enter in those areas. e.x double price.
-For me it's not the Geo tag that killing the place, is the Cheap price, or the free entrance to get there.
"Also they must set a Photographer price ticket. Anyone with tripod or any Pro Equipment should pay much more money to enter in those areas. e.x double price."
That's a big grey area for me.
Please define "pro equipment" - In Dubai i was stopped from taking pictures because i have "pro equipment" several times, using a D5500 with a Travel zoom lens (no tripod). While other people happily snap away all they want with their phones (even using flash in museums).
I carry a tripod because i value the advantages it provides me, but i'm far away from getting any profit out of that.
Why do you feel like a Photographer causes more harm than a selfie tourist?
In the video linked there is not a single person that would fall under that rule. You can also check my comment on the bottom of the page regarding that.
I ran a wildlife photography group on Facebook. It had over 11k members. I made what I thought was an ethical decision - a rule about not listing a location of any kind, regardless of how vague. I was stunned by the hostility against this rule. A lot of people supported the rule. A much larger percentage hated the rule,and were quite outspoken, publicly and privately. I ultimately shut down the group. I'm still stunned by the hostility about a rule designed to protect the wildlife that we love. I absolutely support removing GPS tags from landscape images. Fight the good fight.
Wow, that's incredible. I'm honestly surprised each day, too. Sad to hear that happened. Keep fighting the good fight!
I think it's because of the nature of social media that people use it as a kind of ego polishing. Geo-Tags show how cool they are visiting exotic locations and will help get more views on their pictures.
Ultimately, what I see are people hiding behind the guise of good intentions. The same people who say that they are worried about the environment will write a thought piece on geotags but won't vote or call the people in power for environmental protections and resources, or use their platforms to rally people into voting and supporting the environment. They won't hound on their local governments to curb the blatant money-making tourism ventures or expect them to answer for allowing foreign companies to build and expand these ventures for foreign markets. Or how governments will allow companies to destroy beautiful locations with agriculture, fracking, development, deforestation, etc. Also, how many of these people go off the beaten path to get a new, unique shot but demand others not follow in their footsteps? On another note, if people don't live up to behavioral expectations, assuming the worst of them as if they are unwashed masses helps no one. Why not use your platforms to educate others? Why not say, hey, I know you feel the pressure to take amazing trips and collect photos to try to stand out to people you know and all the strangers of the world, but you need to respect where you are and not put dimming your insecurities first? Saying that the damage comes from people knowing about a place because of geotagging doesn't consider that without them or some general awareness of where to go, people who show up to a general location will wander in places they shouldn't. As for people needing to put in the work themselves, why lead photography workshops then? Or does anyone who photographs a place have to be a richer person who has the time and money to scope things out for days and days? There is a barrier when you don't share, and that's to poorer people who want to make the best use of their time and hard-earned money somewhere beautiful. Or, by preventing people from knowing where something is that they would ultimately like to see for themselves denies people the opportunity to grow and love things the way you do and respect things the way you do. Let's be real, in keeping a location secret, you have something that someone else doesn't. And that, I think, is ultimately what the fuss about geotagging is: access and exclusivity. If something is really that fragile, don't share it at all.
As a commenter above put, I will simply copy and paste to address your comment:
"ARGH. I don't understand why people don't understand this.
Let me break it down for you very simply, folks:
Nobody's stopping you from going anywhere. That's what actual laws, fences, permit fees. etc. are for.
Social media is not a barrier, nor does it owe you anything. So it isn't at all "elitist" for someone to withold the location of a beautiful landscape, or anything else.
This "secret-keeper" is merely leaving in place the SAME barrier for entry that they themselves had to overcome.
If anything, that's the definition of equality and fairness, NOT elitism or exclusivity.
So, get that silver spoon out of your mouth, and stop begging for a handout. It makes you sound entitled, and smells a lot like victimism.
Go do the work to find cool places on your own. Most are easy enough to find. And when you do find them, practice Leave No Trace, and only share the location with those you can personally trust to do the same."
I think that generalizing about people who stand for this opinion and don't do anything about it politically is hurting your argument, as well. Since I'm the author of this article, I feel I should say that I do vote for the environment and encourage others to do so, too. As well as encourage others to treat the land responsibly when going.
That comment does nothing to convince me and reeks of a dismissive attitude. Doesn't really address my argument at all. Do you want a conversation or not?
I'm glad you vote and encourage others to respect the world around them. But the majority of successful nature photographer vague-gram about the place they're at and do nothing more to help anyone understand what they're looking at, why it matters, and how to protect it. Your IG captions do the same. Maybe the people with platforms others engage with need to reconsider what they're saying to their audiences if they really want to protect places.