When Ansel Adams first picked up a Kodak Brownie box camera at the age of 14 the world of photography was forever changed. Nature and landscape photography became an outlet for artists within the environmentalist movement, and it also gave photographers a chance to shoot a subject bigger and more unpredictable than any other: Mother Nature

Today, photographers like Marissa Turner are continuing the tradition by showing us the world beyond our closed office doors and tiny cell phone screens. In the years since Adams’ death the world has continued turning, and photography trends have come and gone. With humans feeling more isolated than ever, while being more connected globally and digitally than any other time in history, a deep need for reconnection through photography and other artistic mediums has been discovered. Below is a list of the top three reasons nature and landscape photography are more important than ever before.

1. There is a lack of contact with nature:

Urban population numbers continue to grow, but most people no longer regularly visit or have regular contact with wildlife and natural areas. Nature photography gives viewers a way to “visit” these places and engage with nature, something they might not otherwise have the chance to do.

 2. Nature photography places a larger focus on conservation efforts:

Taking action to protect the environment will never happen unless people feel empathy through a personal connection with nature. As noted above, many people rarely experience nature in today’s urban dominated society. Nature photography becomes a conservation effort when we realize that a person’s exposure to the world through the medium connects them to a story being told of the earth, its inhabitants, and ultimately ourselves.

3. A photographer’s love trumps all

There may be no better reason to photograph nature than the photographer’s natural inclination. Some photographers are drawn to portraiture while others prefer architectural photography. The best nature photographers are those who have a love for their subject; those who are called to make a contribution to the earth’s story. Whether shooting an elephant’s journey through the African savanna or a pinecone nestled in a deep cradle of snow in America’s North West, a photographer who finds joy in the process will contribute more than one who would rather be doing something else.

Photographer Marissa Turner is deep in the editing process of her first nature and landscape photography book based on recent travels throughout the United States. Her Kickstarter project is intended to support the creation of her book and allow her to share her photography at an affordable cost to all. To find out more about Marissa’s Kickstarter please visit: www.kickstarter.com