Photographer Buddies, why bash them?

[DiverLS]

I am an avid photographer and do a lot of diving. I don't take my camera when I think things are going to be dicey, namely current and now cave diving.

I've always been attentive to my buddy, I'm usually more aware of them than they are of me. I don't wander.

My biggest chalenge was on a boat and I buddied with two other female photographers. I admit I was bragging a little but I promised to bring us all up on the boat at the same time. You should have seen the gaping moughs when I did.

I admit there are Under Water Photographers who are not like me. They are usually encountered on warm water dives. That can be indicated how they set up their gear and how they approach diving. It's not the photography that makes a diver a bad buddy, it's how experienced the diver is.

So, please, don't reject an "insta-buddy" just because they have a camera. You might be surprised when they email you a good picture of yourself underwater cavorting with a few juvenile sea lions at the Rookery at Santa Barbara. I just did that for my last insta-buddy. :cool2:

 

[Jax]

Yeah . . . but you may be well out-numbered by others . . .

 

[DCBC]

Underwater photography isn't the only diving activity that can cause a buddy to be inattentive. I'm happy to dive with an u/w photographer (and have been one myself), but I'll ask them about what to expect from them before getting into the water. You dive the plan you accept to do on the surface.

 

[legions]

Many, many, moons ago, skindiver magazine did an article on the meaning of buddy or partner.

I've always called the other person in the water with me my partner.

And sometimes I've called him a lot worse than that.

cheers.

 

[SailNaked]

LOL, was reading the other thread....

I think photographers get a bad rap because they stop to take pictures and sometimes more than one.. this is time the buddy could and should be using to examine the reef or whatever the picture is of more closely.
I have been both the buddy and the photographer I have no problem with other photographer buddies till they start laying on the reef to take their pictures then they get a handful of signs from me. I use the extra time to find more pictures for the photographer after all that is why we are diving a reef right? to look at the little things that live there?

 

[Garrobo]

I've dove with several photogs without any problems. When he/she decides to take a picture of somethng I just go about looking for lobsters. When they are done, we go along again, looking for something else to take a picture of. Life's short.

 

[Chugwhump]

I've dove with several photogs without any problems. When he/she decides to take a picture of somethng I just go about looking for lobsters. When they are done, we go along again, looking for something else to take a picture of. Life's short.

Perfectly stated.
Chug
Has a camera/ kills bugs/ has no issue with photogs....except macro people....those guys are weird.

 

[fppf]

Yeah, people can be rough on us photogs.
My wife and I both shoot, we always dive with each other and are a good team. We can both find something to shoot within a safe distance of each other. We also keep track of each other and always surface/descend at the same time.

Other people only want to be your buddy when they want that shot of them with that shark, ray, ell, or what the case maybe. If they where previously giving me a hard time about me taking to much space, to slow, or just plan crap I don't take the shot. "Sorry ran out of film, errr memory card, errr batteries are dead, errrr just a plan screw you

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

Being a photographer's dive buddy takes some technique, and a bit of effort. Being a photographer with a dive buddy does too. In order for it to work. both dive buddies need to establish and follow some ground rules. Once that's done ... and with a bit of practice ... it's not difficult at all ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[rstofer]

Good photography, especially macro photography takes time and it takes even more time when the bottom is stirred up. So, photographers move slow. The rest of the group is exploring a large area of reef while the photographer is just staying in one spot, waiting for the silt to settle.

As to whether that irritates the photographer's buddy is a question that should have been resolved before hitting the water. After all, the photographer also paid money for the dive and had certain expectations. As did the buddy...

There must be a way to resolve it; like photographs on one dive and cruising on the next. Or maybe there isn't and that's why some divers don't want to dive with photographers.

I understand the situation quite well. I took thousands of photos while I was in SE Asia - a few of them are pretty nice. But they all took time. Even the ones that are worthless.

My buddy was also a photographer and she actually got published. It was easy to get her started: I bought her the equipment. "Here, now we can both dawdle!" It worked out just fine.

But I think it is arrogant for either party of an insta-buddy arrangement to dictate the terms of the dives. There needs to be an agreement. Or, just agree to descend as a buddy team and go your own way. But then don't whine when things turn south.

Richard