Comments on: The Ugly Side of Underwater Photography http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/ Diving opinions from top diving experts in the dive industry Thu, 09 Feb 2012 14:04:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.7.1 hourly 1 By: Egglesly http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-5056 Egglesly Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:29:07 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=228#comment-5056 Peer pressure works. Get 2 or 3 of your dive buddies and confront the offending photog either under or above water and tell them to quit or be relieved of decent shots for the rest of the dive. It is particularly horrible when night creatures are subjected to constant high-intensity flashing. It can permanent damage their visual membranes, thus effectively signing their death sentence. Peer pressure works. Get 2 or 3 of your dive buddies and confront the offending photog either under or above water and tell them to quit or be relieved of decent shots for the rest of the dive.

It is particularly horrible when night creatures are subjected to constant high-intensity flashing. It can permanent damage their visual membranes, thus effectively signing their death sentence.

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]]> By: S Cole http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-4750 S Cole Sat, 17 Dec 2011 17:36:50 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=228#comment-4750 I don't like diving with amateur photographers. If you want good pictures of marine life, buy a Paul Human book! No one really wants to look at your vacation pictures anyway. I don’t like diving with amateur photographers. If you want good pictures of marine life, buy a Paul Human book! No one really wants to look at your vacation pictures anyway.
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]]> By: laura cerlon http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-4260 laura cerlon Fri, 30 Sep 2011 21:59:11 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=228#comment-4260 As a budding underwater photographer, on one hand I am happy to report that I have not witnessed such an extreme transgression of etiquette. However, I have seen it happen. I was very fortunate in my early experiences to learn how underwater photography can truly hurt the subject. The case at hand was a poor pygmy seahorse that I was certain was blinded by the flashes of the many cameras pointed in its face. Flashes that were so close, they burned the critter's coral surround. Perhaps a solution to the problem of poor etiquette (i.e. large group of out-of-control underwater photographers) or those that are so insensitive to their subject's well being, would be to turn the tables. Take a few or 50 photos of an inconsiderate photographer's face, at close range, and see how they like it? As a budding underwater photographer, on one hand I am happy to report that I have not witnessed such an extreme transgression of etiquette. However, I have seen it happen. I was very fortunate in my early experiences to learn how underwater photography can truly hurt the subject. The case at hand was a poor pygmy seahorse that I was certain was blinded by the flashes of the many cameras pointed in its face. Flashes that were so close, they burned the critter’s coral surround. Perhaps a solution to the problem of poor etiquette (i.e. large group of out-of-control underwater photographers) or those that are so insensitive to their subject’s well being, would be to turn the tables. Take a few or 50 photos of an inconsiderate photographer’s face, at close range, and see how they like it?
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]]> By: Bonnie McKenna http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-4098 Bonnie McKenna Tue, 23 Aug 2011 16:57:31 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=228#comment-4098 This subject is near and dear to my heart. In the predive briefing on a recent trip I was leading to the Raja Ampats, I made it clear to all photographers that if they wanted to take a series of photographs of a subject then they must wait till all other divers had a chance. I also discussed all the other courtesies that divers should take into consideration...buoyancy being top on the list. Last year, in Lembeh Straights I witnessed a group of photographers tearing apart a huge sponge to they could get a good shot of a frogfish. My only regret is that I did not take a photo of the melee. Sadly, it is not the first time I have seen "photographers" disturbing critters. I have been diving the Raja Ampats for more than 10 years...sadly, I note that I see a definite decline in the number of critters and destruction of the reefs. I attribute this to too much pressure on the reefs by an over abundance of liveaboards and discourteous divers. This subject is near and dear to my heart. In the predive briefing on a recent trip I was leading to the Raja Ampats, I made it clear to all photographers that if they wanted to take a series of photographs of a subject then they must wait till all other divers had a chance. I also discussed all the other courtesies that divers should take into consideration…buoyancy being top on the list. Last year, in Lembeh Straights I witnessed a group of photographers tearing apart a huge sponge to they could get a good shot of a frogfish. My only regret is that I did not take a photo of the melee. Sadly, it is not the first time I have seen “photographers” disturbing critters.
I have been diving the Raja Ampats for more than 10 years…sadly, I note that I see a definite decline in the number of critters and destruction of the reefs. I attribute this to too much pressure on the reefs by an over abundance of liveaboards and discourteous divers.
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]]> By: Tom Shropshire http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/2009/07/05/notes-from-the-back-of-beyond-ii/comment-page-2/#comment-4097 Tom Shropshire Tue, 23 Aug 2011 14:31:37 +0000 http://www.undercurrent.org/blog/?p=228#comment-4097 Having read this story with great interest, I was a liveaboard many times (it should be noted I worked for the liveaboard company, land-based), and many times witnessed professional photographers who destroyed the reef. Their motto: anything for a great shot. It did not go unaware to these photographers as I did say something (in private) to them upon return to the boat. Having read this story with great interest, I was a liveaboard many times (it should be noted I worked for the liveaboard company, land-based), and many times witnessed professional photographers who destroyed the reef. Their motto: anything for a great shot.
It did not go unaware to these photographers as I did say something (in private) to them upon return to the boat.
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