Do you or your buddies dive with a Camera?

[FishNut]

I usualy take my camera with my 95% of the time. I dont take it on night dives because i have not figured out how to multi-task with a flash light and camera at the same time. also if the waves are to big ill leave it on shore. Im trying to figure out how to attach my flashlight to my strobe so i can still see what im taking photos of with out using my primary light.

 

[Noboundaries]

Im trying to figure out how to attach my flashlight to my strobe so i can still see what im taking photos of with out using my primary light.

Attach an additional backup sized light?

 

[Doc]

Attach an additional backup sized light?

And a brilliant idea that is, too!

A tiny AAA powered light attached with Velcro (the industrial strength type) or tape or ...

It's called a modeling light. Point it at your subject, then know that your strobe is pointed in the right direction.

Few do it, but it makes perfect sense. I use those tiny UK 2AAA lights.

I have mounted two laser pointers angled in on either side of the camera set to coincide at the magic 7" minimum focus distance of my camera. The dots come together on the subject- I'm dead-on in distance.

That's how I got this one, stuffed in a crevice and very sensitive to any light:

 

[under water]

I don't know how many people have encountered this issue, but I'd like to know anyone's thoughts.

There is this one guy in our dive group that insists on bringing is camera (it's a big one that he spent a ton of $$ on, of course) on every dive we do. That in and of itself isn't the issue. The issue is that the guy is not blessed with the best skills or form when it comes to the sport. When he's wielding his "instrument of destruction", his buoyancy is awful, he neglects his dive buddy, swims off alone in any direction and generally becomes one of the most careless divers you would ever encounter. It seems he's so focused on using the camera that he forgets he is actually involved in an activity that can be dangerous if not undertaken properly.

So how do I keep this numbskull from trying to kill himself, ruining the dive for his appointed buddy and not totally crush his ego and piss him off? He's a nice guy, but I hate to say, "Look, you need to really focus on figuring out how to dive before you lug that monster along one more time." I don't want to be that guy, but at the same time, I think something needs to be done.

I suppose this should be counted in the category of "carries a camera but shouldn't" :no

Any thoughts (smaller camera, advanced buoyancy class, stright forward "you suck" comment?)

Bring a camera. Take pictures of him at his worst behavior.
Likes, Concerns, Suggestions. A way to approach a concern.
Tell him that you like his pictures. Share the pictures with him and let him know that you understand that he may not be aware of his buoyancy and orientation when he is taking pictures. Tell him that you care not so much about his behavior, but about him and his buddy. Tell him that you are concerned with the reefs and his and his buddy's safety and how he seems to be unaware of the damage he may be doing.
Suggest that you would be glad to help him with buoyancy skills if you think he needs them. Ask him in return to help you with some photo skills.
Just a suggestion.

 

[SSSparky777]

Thanks for the comments Frank. I never even thought of taking pictures of him. What a great idea!:thumbs-up

 

[RonFrank]

A Large number of friends have cameras. A large number of them don't use them when we dive locally!

 

[scubadobadoo]

I used to dive all the time with a camera. I sold all my camera gear and don't miss it now. At some point you either have to upgrade from a P and S and become a photographer who dives or just get rid of the camera and be a diver who dives because how many more crappy shots of angel fish can one take after 6 years?

 

[FishNut]

Attach an additional backup sized light?

Ill have to try that.

And a brilliant idea that is, too!

A tiny AAA powered light attached with Velcro (the industrial strength type) or tape or ...

It's called a modeling light. Point it at your subject, then know that your strobe is pointed in the right direction.

Few do it, but it makes perfect sense. I use those tiny UK 2AAA lights.

I have mounted two laser pointers angled in on either side of the camera set to coincide at the magic 7" minimum focus distance of my camera. The dots come together on the subject- I'm dead-on in distance.

That's how I got this one, stuffed in a crevice and very sensitive to any light:

where did you get laser pointers that could go in the water?

 

[peterbj7]

RoatanMan missed out on saying that the shiny (or often, matt black) toys that so many people like to carry go way beyond cameras. The reason is often the same as one he cited though - "b) I will have validation as a better diver if I have that".

I own a total of 5 u/w cameras (for teaching and rental) and occasionally when conditions are really good I'll take one out to see what i can get. The picture below was taken on a night dive, when I had to use a small pilot light to have any idea of what I was pointing at. This was with one of the 5mp Casio's referred to by NoBoundaries, IMO a really excellent camera. It has a battery life that can last 7 dives and several hundred exposures.

 

[sunnyboy]

Bring a camera. Take pictures of him at his worst behavior.
Likes, Concerns, Suggestions. A way to approach a concern.
Tell him that you like his pictures. Share the pictures with him and let him know that you understand that he may not be aware of his buoyancy and orientation when he is taking pictures. Tell him that you care not so much about his behavior, but about him and his buddy. Tell him that you are concerned with the reefs and his and his buddy's safety and how he seems to be unaware of the damage he may be doing.
Suggest that you would be glad to help him with buoyancy skills if you think he needs them. Ask him in return to help you with some photo skills.
Just a suggestion.

Better yet, if the light is OK (i.e. not too deep diving), put a camera into video mode (many newer point-and-shoot cameras have a video mode now) and VIDEO him on his destructive journey.

Then play the video for him privately. Maybe warn him that if his ways don't change you'll upload the video to youtube and let the whole world see him in action!

-S