How do you handle "rude"?

[Zeeman]

Oh, OK, that is nasty. Dive knife across the lens of the camera. If he can't take good shots, he wont hog the space

Z...

 

[pir8]

Not all divers always have the option of 'leaving everbody else' and for some divers it may not be a good idea. While better to just avoid jerks, sometimes it is not practical(live aboards, group dives, regular dive buddies sibling) so you either must attempt to correct their behaviour or endure it.

And some photogs MO is to watch for divers stopping to look at something and then going over to grab a pic. The polite ones wait for you to leave, the rest just start wiggling their way into the group and then pushing them aside as they shift from one side to the other trying to frame the shot the way they like.

Then you have the case (experienced personally) of the dive buddy who becomes a photog, and becomes an embarrasement to dive with when holding a camera. If he was a good buddy before the camera, it is worth it to help him learn the proper 'skills' for his new hobby. It is a high task load situation and someone who was a considerate diver before the camera can become a rude butthead because he/she is focused so intently on the new tasks. They need input and correction when necessary. And sometimes some 'tough love'.

Keep those that need to be together together. Personally I have a buddy that knows what I am doing and understands that I am not always watching him. Of course we are both always pointing things out to each other.

 

[Diver Dennis]

Not all divers always have the option of 'leaving everbody else' and for some divers it may not be a good idea. While better to just avoid jerks, sometimes it is not practical(live aboards, group dives, regular dive buddies sibling) so you either must attempt to correct their behaviour or endure it.

And some photogs MO is to watch for divers stopping to look at something and then going over to grab a pic. The polite ones wait for you to leave, the rest just start wiggling their way into the group and then pushing them aside as they shift from one side to the other trying to frame the shot the way they like.

Then you have the case (experienced personally) of the dive buddy who becomes a photog, and becomes an embarrasement to dive with when holding a camera. If he was a good buddy before the camera, it is worth it to help him learn the proper 'skills' for his new hobby. It is a high task load situation and someone who was a considerate diver before the camera can become a rude butthead because he/she is focused so intently on the new tasks. They need input and correction when necessary. And sometimes some 'tough love'.

That's a good point Matt. A lot of divers can't really separate themselves from the group. A good procedure here is to stay with the group but as was pointed out, a little off track. I like your "tough love" scenario. A lot of times the diver with a new camera does not realize they are being so rude.

 

[fairybasslet]

Yeah, it is a BIG ocean out there, but how often to you get to see a harlequin shrimp?

I call this photo "Traffic jam on Red Rock"

On my recent trip to the Similans, I was gently reminded to "stay with the group" but I often fell behind. Because of this practice, I was the only one to see a leopard shark. Crappy photo because I got so excited when I saw it (Thoughts that ran through my head: "What's that? A nurse shark. But it has spots? Huh? It has spots you idiot!!! OMG. It must be a leopard shark!!!" Snap photo without framing. "OK, swim around really slow and low, and come up on it nice and slow from the front and get an awesome shot. "Oh #$%%%. Cut too soon. I hope I didn't scare it. You JERK!!!! It's gone."

 

[Cacia]

oooooh, flashy shark.

don't photographers deserve more time? After all, we spent SOOOO much money to be there.... (kidding)

 

[NadMat]

oooooh, flashy shark.

don't photographers deserve more time? After all, we spent SOOOO much money to be there.... (kidding)

You are joking Catherine, but I have met a few who have exactly that attitude (I spent $XXXX on my photo equipment, so obviously my diving needs should eclipse yours).

Some examples are a photog on a cancun trip that didn't want to go to the site chosen by 7 of the 8 divers on boat 'because I already have pictures of there' and whined and *****ed the whole way. Another photog who explained(not requested) I would have to sit on floor of boat so she could use my seat space to organize/assemble her camera equipment. Another photog who wanted us to clear wreck so could get a picture without any divers in it and requested it by writing on slate to 'get out of the way, your ruining my picture' when he made no effort on boat to communicate his desire to get pic of wreck uncluttered by divers, or to get into water first and get down there for pic before site became cluttered by other 5 on boat (not that it would have mattered, as was another group of 7 at site before us).

Thankfully these people are usually the exception with most experienced photogs, at least in my experience. But for those who feel that the above are perfectly reasonable attitudes, I recommend they get a private guide or charter all to themselves so that they don't have to worry about the rest of us getting in the way of 'their' experience. I mean, if you can afford all that equipment, whats a few extra bucks for a boat all to yourself?

 

[jpcpat]

I just bought an UW housing for my camera, so thanks for the...advice, and possible consequences.

From this thread I guess I should ask the group to let me know, during the dive, if I am bothering anyone. I'll try not to be pest, but I will respond positively to a finger wagged in my mask.

 

[NadMat]

I just bought an UW housing for my camera, so thanks for the...advice, and possible consequences.

From this thread I guess I should ask the group to let me know, during the dive, if I am bothering anyone. I'll try not to be pest, but I will respond positively to a finger wagged in my mask.

Sounds like you are starting with the right attitude to not become one of 'those' photographers

I too am about to buy a housing for my digital, and am trying to develop a mantra, something along the lines of 'I will not be a butthead, I do not own the ocean' ....

As always, good pre and post dive communication is key to preventing and resolving problems.

 

[pir8]

You are joking Catherine, but I have met a few who have exactly that attitude (I spent $XXXX on my photo equipment, so obviously my diving needs should eclipse yours).

Some examples are a photog on a cancun trip that didn't want to go to the site chosen by 7 of the 8 divers on boat 'because I already have pictures of there' and whined and *****ed the whole way. Another photog who explained(not requested) I would have to sit on floor of boat so she could use my seat space to organize/assemble her camera equipment. Another photog who wanted us to clear wreck so could get a picture without any divers in it and requested it by writing on slate to 'get out of the way, your ruining my picture' when he made no effort on boat to communicate his desire to get pic of wreck uncluttered by divers, or to get into water first and get down there for pic before site became cluttered by other 5 on boat (not that it would have mattered, as was another group of 7 at site before us).

Thankfully these people are usually the exception with most experienced photogs, at least in my experience. But for those who feel that the above are perfectly reasonable attitudes, I recommend they get a private guide or charter all to themselves so that they don't have to worry about the rest of us getting in the way of 'their' experience. I mean, if you can afford all that equipment, whats a few extra bucks for a boat all to yourself?

You could always spill something accidentally on someone/thing who wants to hog space on a boat. Your camera should be mostly put together before getting on a boat. I can see changing film/batteries after a dive but I don't like to open my housing much if I can help it.

 

[NadMat]

You could always spill something accidentally on someone/thing who wants to hog space on a boat. Your camera should be mostly put together before getting on a boat. I can see changing film/batteries after a dive but I don't like to open my housing much if I can help it.

messing up them or their stuff is always last choice, however personally satisfying it might be

In the case of the chick who wanted my seat for her stuff, after short discussion of why I 'had' to give up my paid for space on boat for her equipment assembly(mostly putting batts in lights and attaching said to camera housing) and discussion about whether she should pay part of my trip fee if she wanted my seat in addition to her own I finally got her to rephrase her previous 'explaination' into a polite request(which was all I really wanted) and gladly gave up my seat while she assembled her gear.

I believe she saw the light as opposed to just going along to get the space since she bought me a beer later when we ended up at same restaurant for dinner.