How do you handle "rude"?

[Diver Dennis]

You won't find Pro or experienced photographers breaking down their set up on any boat other than a live aboard. As pir8 said, it is not a good habit to get into.

 

[NadMat]

You won't find Pro or experienced photographers breaking down their set up on any boat other than a live aboard. As pir8 said, it is not a good habit to get into.

She was not so much breaking her equipment down as assembling it.
I'm sure she was not a Pro, and from brief conversation over beer at dinner I got that she had not been doing it that long, she had definately never gone out of country on dive trip with set up before. Pros and experienced photogs are mostly polite about sharing space both above and below water(usually by arranging to stay as far away from main group as DM will permit). When they don't want to share space they just get a private charter. The problem comes with those who book on a shared dive excursion and expect to be treated as if they are on a private charter. In my experience, these are usually (although not always) new to hobby, with a lot of learning to do and a tendency to overlook the interpersonal aspects of their new hobby trying to get the technical aspects down.

 

[Cacia]

When I first got my camera, I often treated it as a "third party" worthy of it's own everything. And, getting your own boat is a good thing, especially if your group of friends charter it. Fellow photogs are not as put off by camera issues. In Palau, getting your own boat with friends is something I have done.

I do bring my own rinse bucket and I don't really care too much if people complain because most of those people would be complaining about something else, I am convinced. Even most people complainng about other divers underwater, are people that if you fix that problem, they just move on to something else.
While being considerate is important, being able to entertain yourself without constantly looking for complaints is also a form of consideration.
In my experience, the divers that are easy going and roll with whatever characters are on the boat have a much better time. I do see many people who seem to make it a side hobby complaining about what other people are doing. I believe they ruin their own dive experiences.

 

[Diver Dennis]

She was not so much breaking her equipment down as assembling it.
I'm sure she was not a Pro, and from brief conversation over beer at dinner I got that she had not been doing it that long, she had definately never gone out of country on dive trip with set up before. Pros and experienced photogs are mostly polite about sharing space both above and below water(usually by arranging to stay as far away from main group as DM will permit). When they don't want to share space they just get a private charter. The problem comes with those who book on a shared dive excursion and expect to be treated as if they are on a private charter. In my experience, these are usually (although not always) new to hobby, with a lot of learning to do and a tendency to overlook the interpersonal aspects of their new hobby trying to get the technical aspects down.

Thanks for clarifying Matt, I did mean that she was probably a newer photographer. Although cameras do take up some space, we usually just put them on the floor out of the way and cover them with a towel.

 

[NadMat]

Quick question Catherine, how big is your rinse bucket and how small are the boats you are taking it on? If it is a 50 gal trashcan and you're taking it along on a six pack boat with 5 other non photog divers, you might be one of 'those' people

I do bring my own rinse bucket and I don't really care too much if people complain because most of those people would be complaining about something else, I am convinced

This could be true, or could be an attempt to justify your actions and convince yourself you're not just being inconsiderate. Kinda depends are whether you are using just your fair share of the boat, or pushing them and their gear aside for yours.

JMAO...

 

[lowwall]

I just got back from my first dives with a camera. I'll be the first to admit trying to take pics resulted in a noticeable degradation in buoyancy control and buddy awareness. But at least I had enough sense to get at the end of the line so I wasn't bashing into other divers.

Actually, since I offered to share the pics before the dive, the other divers were very accomodating. A couple of times they even went back to get me to make sure I saw something of interest.

Still, in the future I think rather than letting the camera control my dive, I'll just keep it tucked away unless I see something really special.

 

[fairybasslet]

I just got back from my first dives with a camera. I'll be the first to admit trying to take pics resulted in a noticeable degradation in buoyancy control and buddy awareness. But at least I had enough sense to get at the end of the line so I wasn't bashing into other divers.

Actually, since I offered to share the pics before the dive, the other divers were very accomodating. A couple of times they even went back to get me to make sure I saw something of interest.

Still, in the future I think rather than letting the camera control my dive, I'll just keep it tucked away unless I see something really special.

At least you were aware of it. That's the most important thing. To tell you the truth, I do not try to get a shot where I have to get too close to the reef. I am not the kind of diver who can hover 1 inch. I watch some really good divers who can get really close, deal with the strobe and settings and stuff, and not touch a thing. I've also seen a few really experienced uw photogs make mistakes and kick a coral or sponge. If I can't get the shot without disturbing something, then I just don't get it. I don't want to be the kind of uw photog that has no respect for the environment. When I've made mistakes like that in the past, I felt really guilty and it's just not worth it. So, I do find myself taking a lot of wide angle shots. LOL. And I pratice my skills a lot, like finning backward, braking, buoyancy control, with the camera even if I'm not taking photos. A pro told me that the camera should be like part of my body.

 

[PhotoTJ]

My view as a photographer is, if I find it, it's mine till I'm done, if someone else finds something, it's theirs until they're done. (I seldom if ever dive groups, if I do, I let everyone look to their hearts content before I start shooting.)

 

[Cacia]

yea, I admit it. I am one of those people. ....But I do find my own critter subjects, so I am not SO bad. but I am a pain on the boat...and I try and make up for it in other ways. But honestly, yes, I am a pain. Most of the people here are tourist divers and I know all the captains, so I just do whatever I want and that is rude. I am a bit more conscious of it for reading all these threads against photographers on SB. But the first step is being aware and I admit it. Not really sure if I will change but maybe gradually. At least I don't ever go on livaboards and subject innocent divers to my ways. I know my limitations, you know?

Hopefully, we will have a boat soon and we can invite our friends who I am pretty sure will overlook my big rinse bucket and my oversized bag. I honestly think, overall I am an asset on the charters, but maybe that is my inconsiderate ego...could be. The captains have not complained yet but like i said before, I try and be helpful loading tanks, helping with medical probs, one more DM looking out for probs. My rinse bucket and bag are just part of the package....I think the real issue is are you a plus or a minus? Try and be a plus and people will overlook the fact that you are an airhog, or have too much stuff, or talk too loud, or smell bad, or ...you get my point.

We have a favorite captain here who is always late. Very late. Go and eat breakfast late. Still, he has a very popular charter boat because he is delightful in every other way. He has two baby girls raising them on his own...we just deal with his imperfections. There is another guy here that has the nicest boat, leaves on time, well groomed, professional but no one is on his boat for other reasons.

Live Aloha is more than just a tourism slogan...most people living here have a different outlook from some of the slightly more tightly wrapped divers flying in from the burbs to "get their money's worth". We respect their right to that....

 

[NadMat]

Well Catherine, at least you admit it

And you are cute enough that you will slide by with no complaints on any boat full of male divers

And you seem nice enough that even with all your gear in the way you would be plus

Plus you love Aussies, so can't be all bad