Underwater Photography Ethics

[_Bella_]

I'm also in the 1000+ with camera category. A hobby that has gotten a little out of hand. Still, I can't waste valuable time underwater moving things around, I'd rather find something in a better position even if it's a sargeant major. Until the sargeant major makes the cover of NG, I'm working on making that worldclass OOOOoooo AAaaahhhhh picture of them; one slide at a time.

 

[Mike Veitch]

i have well over 3000 with a camera, still love shark feeding....sorry if i am no help whatsover on this topic

 

[Quero]

Out of curiosity, when everyone posts their take on UW feeding and "posing", would you please post the number of dives that you have with a camera.

Cheers and safe diving,
Jamie

Funny, as I was reading through the posts so far, I had the same question, but maybe for a different reason. I'm pretty new at u/w photo (60 or so dives of the last several hundred), and I'm still working setting by setting to get used to my new Oly 5060. So for me, getting a great shot even after moving a critter would be far from certain. I wouldn't consider moving, nudging, herding or otherwise hasseling an animal given that the shot may be less than perfect even if the pose were perfect. I figure I may as well learn to be a good photographer first, and then recognize that maybe 75% of all things I see that I'd like a picture of are simply unshootable for one reason or another.

 

[whitehead]

If they gave sentences for interfering with things uw, I would be writing this from prison.

 

[Azotomix]

When I start my diving lesson (PADI) since the beginning they told me that you do not touch any UW life. This is what I still try to do. However I do have to admit that during the last trip in Thailand I could not resist to touch the Manta Ray which just passed at 5 cm from me. I also touch once an Octopuss.

Beside those two infractions I am not touching not feeding anything under water.

If a really nice animal is in a bad position to shoot at I just cry a little bit leave it there.

I have about 30 dive with my UW photo gear. If I have to dive without it I feel like I missing something I feel naked…

 

[_Bella_]

I figure I may as well learn to be a good photographer first, and then recognize that maybe 75% of all things I see that I'd like a picture of are simply unshootable for one reason or another.

Words to live by, though I'd say it's closer to 90% There are an awful lot of rocks I can't be bothered with..