DAY 134

NATURE & LANDSCAPES

Nature Centers

TAKE NOTHING BUT PICTURES

American explorers of the 19^th century, like John Muir, saw the need to protect parcels of land from exploitation and to ensure the area remained in a natural state. That’s where our National Park system came from. On a smaller scale, many locales are home to modest preserves that carry on the National Park tradition of preserving our natural heritage.

Frequently called “nature centers,” these tracts are kept free of motorized traffic, providing trails designed for hiking. In such places, people are encouraged to leave nothing but footprints and take nothing but pictures.

Photographing in a nature center can be as simple or complex as desired. The ubiquitous point and shoot camera may record terrific images, but in order to capture the essence of a wilderness arboretum, a digital SLR system would undoubtedly work better. A camera, a couple of lenses, and shoe leather could produce wondrous results. —WTD