Earth Day was something I used to overlook each year, like many people do. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve always appreciated my home planet and have always treated it with respect. But it wasn’t until my passion for photography ramped up and I began spending more time outdoors that I became much more aware of how fragile Earth really is and how we as humans must be its caretakers.

Many people who want to help the environment look to recycling, water or energy conservation, or reducing emissions. And while these are very important fundamentals to adhere to, I feel compelled to talk about something many people may not easily recognize when it comes to protecting our world. That is our impact in the great outdoors and its wild places and how we can be responsible when recreating.