Other divers asking for your footage

[irsubmarine]

I know that divers who do not have camera equipment really enjoy getting pictures or even video of themselves. However, I get a little anxious when they request footage they are not in themselves, or if they have their own camera equipment and then request access to my footage.

Perhaps I worry they will present it as their own on social media. Or perhaps they will manage to sell it. If their posts gain traction, then I feel others could take credit for my work. I've had another diver post footage I took. However, he properly attributed me as the creator. That was cool and had my blessing.

If you take some really awesome footage and you have everyone in a dive center start to request the footage, do you get a little worried? If everyone starts passing your footage around (raw unedited clips), they might just leave out attribution if they become lazy or just don't care anymore. I sold footage to a viral media company before, so perhaps that has made me more aware of the whole copyright, attribution world.

What do you guys do when people ask for footage, and you believe your footage is totally awesome?

 

[Coztick]

I post it

 

[Stoo]

As a still photographer, my situation is a little different, but not entirely. My stuff is regularly published in magazines and used on various websites. I am compensated for these images, so I tend to not just give them up.

If a friend asks for an image, perhaps a shot of themselves I took, I will happily share it and call it a modelling fee... but I send a lower res and watermarked version. Perfect for Facebook. If they want a high res file, I will offer to get a print made at the lab I use and that know will do a great job. However I do make exceptions and did so just yesterday...

I have had shops ask me for images to run on their TVs and I give them a pile for that use. I am ok with supporting the folks who support us. But again, low res images and watermarked. Having said that, in almost every case, those images have been "re-purposed" in adds, FB promos etc.

 

[uncfnp]

Absolutely. No strings attached. And other divers have never hesitated when I asked for something we missed.

Then again, my footage is 100% pure amateur.

 

[Kharon]

Actually my video is no great shakes. Shot solely for show-and-tell for family and mostly the kids in the family. Don't think anyone would/could try to gain finantially from it. I just want to edit it and cut the really bad stuff out before anyone sees it. LOL

The only other thing it's useful for is identification of fish.

 

[Kohanbash]

My photos are amateur from a cheap camera.
In my case I could care less what others do with the video or images. So I share freely.
As long as there is nothing personal in the clip I just share the entire thing since it is easiest.

I imagine if I took video/images professionally or put a lot of effort into my photography/video I would feel different.

 

[arew+4]

In most cases it's been people who have pointed out something to me that ask, so I consider fair trade.

 

[BDSC]

If someone really wanted some clips I had shot I would give it to them. I do it for fun and usually post stuff on youtube anyway if I think it's something folks would like to see. To be honest, we are not likely to ever shoot anything that someone can't go to youtube and find dozens of clips of already.

 

[Johnoly]

... they might just leave out attribution if they become lazy or just don't care anymore......

Your point rings home,,,,,but from a very different situation.

I'm a spearo and sometimes on charter boats without asking, I'll have newer divers "PICK UP MY FISH" and take a picture of them holding it like they did all the work/risk/fight to put it in the cooler! Now you are hearing the same echo's I hear, it's just a picture/clip. Those people that say that have a numbered list of excuses why they can't do the heavy work to get their own picture/clip. But it took me many years and thousands of dollars to learn the talents of bringing home an enviable product. It's not right to post a picture or clip and not also include a picture/watermark and contact info of the owner to give credit where it's due.

Don't ask to hold my fish for a picture with you alone in it,,,,,unless you're 5yrs old and the fish is bigger than you, that's cool !!

 

[Bubblesong]

I agree about copywritable photos, and the stolen valor of fishing glory, but what about people who won’t even talk about equipment? Like, if they have a great camera set up, well they can’t tell you what it is or where they sourced it because they that is their edge, and other people should re-invent the wheel figuring it out for themselves. And fisherman NEVER are going to reveal their secret fishing spots, fricking NSA and CIA can’t even coerce them to reveal those coordinates.
So maybe it would be magnanimous to let them hold one small pretty lion-fish.