I have no idea what I am doing in this world looking for plants and animals I know little about. I have to admit I need to dissolve ego when being part of this journey. With that being said, I am not sure I have a focus of what I am trying to contribute or where I am trying to capture those snapshots of the world in the moment I aim the lens. I do have some passions and curiosity about the living world around us and I mostly photography the familiar. I do have particular places in the region where I live that I go to with some frequency. I do often feel lost and lacking purpose. I am not sure what I am helping and what I am contributing to in the space called iNaturalist.
Also, I am wrestling with the idea of ending the mob mentality of having to see a specialized bird or animal to add to "my list". Tell others how to behave seems to be one of those things that is dicey. Lead by example and be what I want to see in others might be more of the strategy I need when exploring the world to share it with others for either scientific reasons or for aesthetics. I have to travel lightly and try to minimize the harm caused by looking for things randomly or letting nature reveal itself as I hike, so to speak. There's loving nature and loving it to death. I feel like I am on a tightwire precipitously hanging on. I hope the community and my own common sense will lead me to better and harmless as possible explorations.
