Become A Photography Change Agent

This Blog's purpose is simple: foster a dialog within the photographic industry about sustainable business and lifestyle practices. I am truly hoping we can develop this conversation in a constructive and beneficial way, but I'm also well aware of the entrenched position many stakeholders will have in this discussion, and that much of the changes will necessarily need to come from the bottom up as a grass roots movement, rather than from the industry players down.

I have, however, been amazed at the dialog that is already happening among the business community, at least in my area (Sonoma County, California), and how there seems to be a growing consensus that the way we've been "doing business" is simply not sustainable. And, most importantly, that it makes good business sense on every level to become educated about what needs to be done and to help make the necessary changes and adaptations.

So many indicators in my life are causing me to step back and analyze just what our actions as photographers, consumers, families and citizens are doing to our environment—to the very systems that sustain us. Every one or our important human support systems, from food production to health care, from the economy to housing, from education to the environment, from energy production to transportation, is in peril and even at risk of collapse.

These huge problems often seem so large, and so dysfunctional on the systemic level, that we can't do anything as individuals to change them. For the most part, I would agree. But I also believe that we can affect change on the individual level, on the family level, with our friends, and in our communities. In this particular community, the community of photographers that I so respect and am proud to be a part of, I'm betting that individual actions will matter, and that collectively all of our individual actions will cause a shift, a "sustainable shift" if you will.

So, please join in at whatever level you feel comfortable, and let's challenge ourselves to see what changes we can make that will contribute to the solutions we so desperately need.

You're welcome to contribute and are encouraged to do so.

Raymond Baltar