DPG is a comprehensive underwater photography website and community for underwater photographers. Learn underwater photography techniques for popular digital cameras and specialized professional underwater equipment (wide angle, macro, super macro, lighting and work flow). Read latest news, explore travel destinations for underwater photography. Galleries of professional and amateur underwater photography including wrecks, coral reefs, undersea creatures, fashion and surfing photography.
Flickr
Twitter
Facebook
Also connect with us on......
RSS Feeds
DPG Widgets

Keep Shooting, Save Whale Sharks

By Matt J. Weiss, August 29, 2008 @ 02:00 AM (EST)
Underwater photographers don't always get best rep. Not many people will jump with the chance to dive with one of us, and some people say we harm the reef. There have definitely been reports of people harassing wildlife, even as big as whale sharks to get the shot.

I am part of the school of thought that think, we as underwater documenters, do much more harm then good.  Here is a great example:

Pictures of whale sharks taken by casual, untrained in science or photography, vacationers are being used to help identify whale sharks to learn more about them and help conserve them.

By using a system the NASA created to recognize stars, marine conservationists are identifying whale sharks by their star like patterns on their dorsal side. Most of the data comes from us, underwater photographers.

Apparently, there is a trend starting too-as tourist pictures and complex algorithms may soon be used to protect polar bears and mola molas as well as some topside wildlife as well.

Comments
Be the first to add a comment to this article.
You must be logged in to comment.
Related Content
Sponsors










What's New
Our Partners
Plongeur.com
Wetpixel-Partner
DiveNewsWire
PADI
ScubaDiver
Underwater Australia
Underwater Journal
DigiDeep
ScubaPortal.net
DEMA
UWP Mag
Xray
About Us  |  Contact Us  |  Advertise
Proud Member of the Underwater Network