Code of Conduct

The Artists Club is a unique learning community.

It is designed and managed to encourage support for creatives, and educational encouragement.

For example we don’t have likes on artworks to encourage comments and discussion.

For a healthy learning community the following guidelines are encouraged and supported.

1. Positive encouragement is the priority in all communications
2. Unsolicited criticism is unacceptable
3. Think before you start commenting about the consequences of your words
4. Ask questions to start conversations
5. Own your feedback (start with ‘I’ rather than ‘you’)
6. Talk about the art not the artist
7. Ask yourself is your comment helpful and encouraging
8. Specific feedback is more useful and helpful for everyone
9. If you have nothing good to say, say nothing
10. Consider your language
11. For every improvement point you make, include at least two other positive points
12. The more specific you are the better
13. Build friendships and community
14. When posting artworks of others for the purposes of education, research, study, criticism and review, we always acknowledge the artist and the source where possible (we follow the 10% rule of acceptable use as per Australian copyright law for educational institutions).
15. This community is a safe space for all people, races, sexualities, and identities.
16. New groups will be formed through requests from the members.
17. Accept and encourage that art is subjective and not objective. Everyone is entitled to create art that makes themselves happy and feel fulfilled. There is no such thing as the correct or right way.

For examples on how to get the most from giving and receiving feedback please head to our start here page

Unacceptable behaviour

• No trolling (an internet troll, or online bully, deliberately tries to offend, cause trouble or directly attack people by posting derogatory comments)
• Discrimination in any form is unacceptable
• No spam, advertising or self promotion
• Do not post copyright infringing material as your own work
• Do not share copyrighted documents and files
• Telling someone else how their artwork should look or be
• Providing negative feedback without explicit consent. (artists will request feedback when sort)
• Do not cross post questions, links or artworks (find the most appropriate place to share once)
• Avoid using the message system for private help
• Do not use this site for dating or advances
• Nudity can be posted if it is considered art by the art community. If it would need a content warning at the art gallery or in prime time television then we require you to post in specific private groups dedicated to that genre that have content warnings.
• Do not post offensive material or content
• Any material which constitutes defamation, harassment or abuse is strictly prohibited.
• Material that is obscene, racist or otherwise overly discriminatory is not permitted in these forums

The Artists Club retains the right to remove content it finds objectionable without explanation. The artists club also retains the right to remove members who do not adhere to our Terms of Service or this code of conduct.

Ethical Lens

Towards an Ethical Lens

Len’s Code of Conduct for the ethical production and dissemination of landscape photographs.  Use this as a starting point to add too or to develop your own. This is what I do, think and behave. I consider my impact. What will you do?

Leave no Trace

• Walk on hard surfaces, stick to existing foot pads
• Stay on formed tracks and boardwalks as designated by the local land managers
• Stay on the appropriate side of the fence
• Avoid walking on newly forming tracks by other photographers to ‘honey pot’ shots, alternatively speak to the land managers seeking their advice
• Clean up after others and take your rubbish home with you. This includes biodegradable litter such as apple cores, banana peels etc
• Consider and eradicate visual pollution and damage
• Walk through muddy tracks to avoid widening the track
• Seek out and follow local environmental best practices
• Consider the impact of your tripod
• Leave rocks, plants, and other natural objects as you find them

Do no harm

• Consider the consequences when labeling photographs (this includes the impact of geotagging, labeling locations and creative manipulations)
• Photograph birds and animals in their native environments without baits or calls
• Consider the impact on the environment
• Photograph without hurting or disturbing the animals
• Never feed the animals
• Consider your toileting practices, learn how to properly ‘shit in the wilderness’ without polluting the environment. Remove toilet paper and sanitary items and take them home.
• Wash your boots or shoes before entering sensitive areas. Remove seeds in footwear and clothing
• Consider and be sensitive to the local indigenous communities requests
• Do not touch rock art, nor disturb middens and other sacred sites

Create with a conscience

• Consider where and how your photographs will be used
• Consider the impact to society and the environment
• Photograph where you are encouraged to
• Create your own individual art
• Promote environmentalism
• Plan ahead for that unexpected viral photograph

Be considerate and sensitive to others

• Be courteous, respect other visitors and protect the quality of their visit
• Use honest and sensitive labeling
• Own your post processing and creativity
• Consider the feelings of those you photograph
• Consider other photographers as you can become their visual pollution
• Talk to other photographers and help create a healthy photographic community
• Consider your tripods impact on other users of the location and track
• Do not mislead others by presenting your work as truth

Adopt a positive attitude

• Photograph with the best intentions
• Keep yourself and others safe
• Look after your equipment and make it last
• Give back to the environment that gives its beauty so freely
• Photograph for a love of the art and nature, rather than to show off, gain followers and likes

Teach and mentor others

• Discuss landscape photography and environmental ethics with others
• Share your knowledge freely
• Teach others how to find joy in their photography
• Take responsibility for others within your care
• Teach safe and environmentally sound practices

Ethical Lens was first published in 2018 at Len’s Journal (link to original article here) as an excerpt from the article in Better Photography 2018 by Len Metcalf

Ethics for Landscape Photographers

In the video below Len talks about the above ethical practices for landscape, environmental and nature photographers.