Posted by Elaine on May 27, 2004 at 14:33:08:
In Reply to: Re: Licensing photographers. posted by Tristen on May 27, 2004 at 13:38:46:
I think that you need to post the studies that show that using flash photography harasses marine life. Are you a marine biologist who has written the studies, how did you do your studies, and have they been validated. Does using the high tech very bright flashlights that divers have been buying constitute "harassing marine life".
When divers feed fish to better observe them, they are in fact "positioning fish". Should all divers be regulated that they can never feed fish? What studies have been done?
The more that you read about nature photography, the more issues you learn to think about. The more that you read about marine science, the more you find out that "people don't really know".
I personally try and be responsible in photographing fish and marine life. If you want more information on the subject buy a few books on "nature photography". Galen Rowell wrote some excellent ones. Or, subscribe to a "Nature Photography" magazine.