Cameras On Sticks

[bowlofpetunias]

I think it's simply an issue of camera prices coming down to where just about any diver can afford them. As others have stated, look at the behavior of professional photographers. Some are boy scouts, I'm sure.. I've seen at least two professionals laying all over marine life to get a shot (and I have well under 200 logged dives).

When you dove before, you didn't see this because not every other diver had the bankroll to buy and use underwater photo/video equipment.

Go-pro knockoffs can be had for well under $100 with everything you need.

I sure agree with you here. The worst "offenders" I have encountered have been people who have the biggest and most expensive systems. You could see that the worst ones really had no idea how to get a good shot anyway. They seemed to think that splashing out on this huge expensive system gave them some kind of priority over everyone else. A big system does not a professional photographer make!

@MMM It is amazing how thoughtless people are with cameras in general. Trying to get a decent shot at any of the tourism events around here is frustrating to the extreme. Cameras on sticks and people using tablets as cameras seem almost impossible to avoid!

 

[undrwater]

Thanks for coming out of the shadow. How does your selfie stick footage look? My footage using an action camera on a tray still looks like crap. If your forage is reward enough, I imagine we'll have to live with this for a while. If not, we can expect this to die down eventually.

Guilty. And I apologize. I would like to add that it had more to do with being a new diver than it did to having a camera on a stick. Everything underwater was new. Everything had to be recorded. I still take a GoPro with me but I usually forget I have it with me most of the time. As at least one other has said, the camera is just there to record the event to share on facebook. I am there to enjoy the dive.

 

[Neilwood]

I will admit to having a GoPro copy on a stick. The stick, although it will extend to 1m, is always kept at its shortest length ie a glorified handle (the camera at most is about 3 inches from the top of my hand). It is to give me memories of the dive later. I pretty much switch it on at the start and let it run during the dive (trying to keep it as steady as possible).

I think the problem is not with the tool but the person holding it. I have seen waterproof cameras, cameras in housings and cameras on trays all pushed in front of other divers to "get their shot" at the expense of the other divers enjoyment. I recall one diver in particular with a handheld waterproof camera almost slamming me into a reef wall to get their shot.

 

[Hoag]

I sure agree with you here. The worst "offenders" I have encountered have been people who have the biggest and most expensive systems. You could see that the worst ones really had no idea how to get a good shot anyway. They seemed to think that splashing out on this huge expensive system gave them some kind of priority over everyone else. A big system does not a professional photographer make!

@MMM It is amazing how thoughtless people are with cameras in general. Trying to get a decent shot at any of the tourism events around here is frustrating to the extreme. Cameras on sticks and people using tablets as cameras seem almost impossible to avoid!

This is where a diver knowing themselves, their ability, and their personal limitations is so very important. I dive with what you might call a "big expensive system" (A "Mirrorless camera" in a housing on a tray with 2 strobes on arms). I also have what might be referred to as "middle-aged eyes" and realize that with my eyesight there is probably little chance of me getting a great shot of something tiny so I don't go after the shots where I would have to (or want to) push any other divers out of my way. Instead, I tend to concentrate of wide angle shots of walls or the sandy flats or the large fish (sharks, rays groupers, etc). If there is something that I want to get a shot of, then I realize that if there is something "special" to see, that I am not the only one who wants to see it and I will patiently wait my turn. I may however stay there a minute or two after the crowd has dissipated to try get the shot, but I am very aware that I am not the only diver who wants to see things. If something like a turtle comes up to me on its own, however, I will photograph it until it decides to leave even if other divers are nearby.

I do not believe as others seem to, that diving with a camera instantly turns one in to an jerk. If a person is a courteous diver then they will behave appropriately whether they have a camera or not. I think that this holds true whether that camera is a GoPro on a stick or a sophisticated system. If, however that person is not a courteous diver, then adding a camera to the equation may have the potential to exacerbate that rudeness.

We are guests in the undersea world, and as guests, it is only fitting that every diver behave in a manner that their host would want them to return.

 

[bowlofpetunias]

This is where a diver knowing themselves, their ability, and their personal limitations is so very important. I dive with what you might call a "big expensive system" (A "Mirrorless camera" in a housing on a tray with 2 strobes on arms). I also have what might be referred to as "middle-aged eyes" and realize that with my eyesight there is probably little chance of me getting a great shot of something tiny so I don't go after the shots where I would have to (or want to) push any other divers out of my way. Instead, I tend to concentrate of wide angle shots of walls or the sandy flats or the large fish (sharks, rays groupers, etc). If there is something that I want to get a shot of, then I realize that if there is something "special" to see, that I am not the only one who wants to see it and I will patiently wait my turn. I may however stay there a minute or two after the crowd has dissipated to try get the shot, but I am very aware that I am not the only diver who wants to see things. If something like a turtle comes up to me on its own, however, I will photograph it until it decides to leave even if other divers are nearby.

I do not believe as others seem to, that diving with a camera instantly turns one in to an jerk. If a person is a courteous diver then they will behave appropriately whether they have a camera or not. I think that this holds true whether that camera is a GoPro on a stick or a sophisticated system. If, however that person is not a courteous diver, then adding a camera to the equation may have the potential to exacerbate that rudeness.

We are guests in the undersea world, and as guests, it is only fitting that every diver behave in a manner that their host would want them to return.

Agreed.

It is also easier if you dive with people you know. Our "Dive group" has developed a system that works considering 6 of the 7 of us have cameras. Whoever finds it gets first shot. I am often the person who finds the critter but if I know it is a subject another buddy's camera will capture better I will show it to them and give them the first chance.

If position and the critter allows two will take turns taking shots alternating while the strobe or camera flash charges. If more room we may form a semi circle and rotate out as each has a chance at a few shots. We always allow and escape path for the creature and watch we don't stress it. I have worked out this system with instabuddies as part of the dive brief. Find out the kinds of shots your buddy wants and tell them what you want. It may turn out that you can help each other and your not even trying for the same kinds of shots.

I will happily go back after everyone has had their turn if the critter is still tolerant. IMHO you need to watch the creatures and learn what their behaviours are so you recognize when to back off and don't stress them. Patience pays for everyone.

 

[ronscuba]

People remember bad behavior. It is the reason people remember the rude photographer and don't remember all the photographers that acted properly.

Agreed that rude selfish people in life, act the same when they dive and shoot photos. A new photographer might not yet know the etiquette, but all it usually takes is someone to tell them or for them to be on the receiving end.

Generally accepted behavior among experienced uw photographers is:

- don't touch
- keep your distance and stay out of the way of the person who found the subject
- wait your turn to photo a subject

Most experienced photographers prefer to stay away from the group. They go far in front, far in back, or in a totally different direction from the group.

 

[The Chairman]

A big system does not a professional photographer make!

I've heard this a couple of times over my life... An aspiring photographer is coveting a big system and says something along the lines of "I bet you take really good pictures with that camera". To which one world renown local photographer replied with a smidgen of irony: "Oh, it's all the camera! I don't have a clue what I'm doing".

 

[Hoag]

I've heard this a couple of times over my life... An aspiring photographer is coveting a big system and says something along the lines of "I bet you take really good pictures with that camera". To which one world renown local photographer replied with a smidgen of irony: "Oh, it's all the camera! I don't have a clue what I'm doing".

One of my pet peeves is when I show someone my photos and they respond with some variation of "Those are great pictures. You must have an incredible camera." My typical response is something along the lines of "You are a very good cook. You must have an incredible stove."

 

[sunnyboy]

I've met quite a few underwater photographers in my time, and only two stand out as "worst". The first was one who I'll call "muddy mudskipper". The problem there was the diver had almost zero situational awareness and so dove with fins constantly churning the bottom. You simply could not follow that diver with a camera.

The second was worse, because this person was a "world famous dive photographer and leader of dive photo workshops". I was helping a buddy by crewing on his boat for one of these "famous" workshops. The pro / leader was the rudest, most entitled a**hole I have ever met in my life. A complete and total jerk. What's worse is this is what he was teaching the entire group. By the end of the two dives everyone, even those who had been polite in the morning, were emulating a**hole behaviour on the boat. I really, really had to resist the urge to "accidentally" drop his $20K rig.

 

[Hoag]

I've met quite a few underwater photographers in my time, and only two stand out as "worst". The first was one who I'll call "muddy mudskipper". The problem there was the diver had almost zero situational awareness and so dove with fins constantly churning the bottom. You simply could not follow that diver with a camera.

The second was worse, because this person was a "world famous dive photographer and leader of dive photo workshops". I was helping a buddy by crewing on his boat for one of these "famous" workshops. The pro / leader was the rudest, most entitled a**hole I have ever met in my life. A complete and total jerk. What's worse is this is what he was teaching the entire group. By the end of the two dives everyone, even those who had been polite in the morning, were emulating a**hole behaviour on the boat. I really, really had to resist the urge to "accidentally" drop his $20K rig.

I think I know who you are talking about in your 2nd example. If it is who I think it might be, I did a photo trip with him about 10 years ago. Our group did not emulate his behaviour. In fact, he was ignored except for the times that we had paid for him to "mentor" us.