F-Stop Collaborate and Listen Mike Sanchez - Leave No Trace in Landscape Photography
Sep 6, 2017
Mike Sanchez, a Scottsdale-based landscape and night photographer known for creative night work and conservation-minded practice. He talks about the appeal and techniques of night photography. They discuss social media's role in his growth and the tension between sharing locations and protecting fragile landscapes. Conservation, Leave No Trace ethics, and responsible stewardship come up repeatedly.
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How Photography Found Mike After A Life Pause
- Mike discovered photography after a New York trip at 18 and became obsessed while bedridden recovering from a leg injury.
- He started with an iPhone and point-and-shoot, then a DSLR (Nikon D5300) and a college class that accelerated night work.
Social Media As A Learning Feedback Loop
- Social media gave Mike early feedback that shaped his photographic tastes and taught what images resonate.
- He used likes and shares to gauge visual preferences, then married that with formal composition lessons from college.
The Waterfall Post That Changed How Mike Shares
- Mike posted a hidden waterfall image and was hassled in DMs asking for the location, which forced him to question motives for sharing.
- That incident pushed him to prioritize personal art, conservation, and withholding exact locations.