“I love exploring the natural world,” Rob Sheppard shared with me enthusiastically when I interviewed him regarding the best ways photographers can approach video and multimedia. That was the same day I talked to Ian Shive and touched base with Tony Wu on the topic, and Sheppard’s comment about exploring nature was by way of explaining his openness to embracing video.
You see, for Sheppard, imaging technology — whether still, video or multimedia — is simply a means to an end. And for Sheppard, that end is about exploring nature, and then sharing his experiences with others.
If you’re not aware, Sheppard is a highly-respected nature photographer, writer, educator and the editor-at-large of “Outdoor Photographer.” He’s been helping educate still photographers for decades –30 books, hundreds of articles and seminars galore — and his intense focus on still imagery made his incredible enthusiasm take me by surprise. Silly, silly me.
Video for Life
During the hour we talked, Sheppard shared a wonderful breath of technical and creative insights. At the end of our call, I asked Sheppard what message he would like to share with nature photographers who might be hesitant about exploring the possibilities of video and multimedia. His beautiful response:
“To me, on a very personal level, nature is important. And I think nature needs our attention. People look at the natural world as place to extract things, but the entire natural world is part of a whole, and when we don’t respect nature it causes problems for nature, and for people as well. Continue reading “Rob Sheppard Sheds Light on the Natural Value of Video”
