Statement of Ethics

Ethics are the principles we try to use when we decide whether it is OK to do something- or not. To have any value, our ethical principles need to be based on our personal understanding of what is right and what is wrong- our morality.

I believe it is right:

To be honest, including not hiding the truth by saying or doing nothing.

To recognise and overcome my biases. Some I can recognise, some I may not, but I am willing to listen when I am told that I am, in fact, biased about something which could be hurtful.

To do my best. I cannot guarantee whether I will achieve my aims in my image-making, but I can promise myself not to knowingly accept second-best from myself.

To respect others’ privacy and well-being. My images may include recognisable objects, places and, rarely, people. Even if the original photograph did not require consent or permission, I will not use it in a way likely to cause offence or hurt.

I believe it is wrong:

To mislead. I will not knowingly give false descriptions of the content of my images. If I use AI in my image-making, I will say so in any description of it, except where the AI is an incidental part of the editing software used and no textual prompts were used.

To deliberately or carelessly harm nature in order to get “a better picture”.

Apologies

Inevitably, I will say and do things that I will regret. I will try to learn from such actions. I will also add to or amend my list above when I realise I have had to make a moral choice that is not described above.