It would have been nice to have a series of three images: the pristine snow on the bridge, just the bird tracks, then the bird and human footprints. Had you been any kind of a disciplined photographer, you would have stalked that bridge out as soon as the snow fell waiting to take those pictures.

I was first in line waiting for the gardens to open. The respect I talk about is not of nature, but of other people’s enjoyment of it. I don’t think nature cares whether Anthony ruins a photogenic scene, but everyone coming after him would. The two people who passed me knew I was there to take pictures of the gardens, which is why I was disappointed they didn’t spend the small amount of effort needed to preserve that little scene. —Jeffrey

My first reaction to the footprint on the bridge was that it was the footprint that made the image interesting, showing in a graphically cool the interaction of people and nature. Doesn’t seem that making a mark on the snow on the bridge has anything to do with “respect for nature,” since there isn’t anything natural about a bridge to begin with….