UW Photo Selling F

FAQs about Above and Below Water Photography: Selling, Sales... and Free Use

Related Articles: Underwater Photography

FAQs on: UW Photography, UW Photography 2,
FAQs on: Gear (will split up to cameras, housings, batteries, lenses... later), Technique/s, Photo Sites, Trips, UW Photography References,
& Above-water Photography, Digital Photography, Aquatic Videography,

Have you seen this? Call for nano pix for books 6/9/13
> Hello Rick,
> Hadn't seen this; thanks for passing it along. Whether I have anything suitable is debatable, but I'll take a look through my iPhoto albums.>
> Bob, you might care to have a look at this link as well.
Did see this Neale... don't know what the editor/friend James Lawrence is thinking re... likely just promotion of the works. B
> Cheers, Neale
> On 7 Jun 2013, at 02:38, Rick Novy wrote:>
> > Neale,
> > I don't know whether you've seen this, but you always seem to come up with good photos.
> > http://www.reef2rainforest.com/2013/06/03/101-nanos-wants-your-photos/

Please help identify 4/30/12
I have been searching all over trying to identify this fish I found in the Galapagos Islands, Ecuador.
Can you help me?
<Wonderful picture of a Bodianus diplotaenia aka Mexican Hogfish-- http://www.fishbase.org/summary/Bodianus-diplotaenia.html >
Thank you,
<Quite welcome>
Diana
<Jordan>

Re: Please help identify 4/3012 5/3/12
> Bob, could you take a look at the second half of the query concerning photos.
> Thanks,
> Jordan
<<Sure>>
> Wow! Thanks...
> <Not a problem. I apologize for the slow response.>
> I originally thought it was a Wrasse. It looks so
> different than the other picture I took of a Mexican Hogfish (also in
> Galapagos). Should I assume that the one you identified for me was a
> juvenile female?
> <You are correct. Juveniles, sub-adults, females, and males are all quite
> different in appearance. The newest picture is of a dominant male. Another
> great photo.>
> Thanks again for your time,
> <Quite welcome>
> Diana
> BTW I am not familiar with your website - I just came across it when I was
> trying to identify the fish. Do you collect pictures of fish from all over
> or are they your personal collections? I have no personal copyright
> issues... do you want any of mine? You are welcome to them. I actually
> have some other much better photos and some unusual shots or species.
> <This would be an area to discuss with Bob. I've sent him a copy of your query.>
> <Jordan>
<<Those on WWM are mostly efforts by me... w/ some like yours as write ins. I suggest you consider becoming a collaborator on fishbase.org if you have the time/interest, and have your images offered to the public there. IF you have the leaning, I will gladly help you to write against your image work and submit to the pulp and e-zines in the dive, travel and petfish interests. Bob Fenner>

ARKive, pix request 11/11/10
Dear Wet Web Media,
<Rebecca>
I hope you do not mind me contacting you but in searching the internet for images of Agaricia tenuifolia, Pseudosiderastrea tayami, and Favia maxima I found fantastic images of yours on wetwebmedia.com which I would be interested in using for ARKive, if you would like to become involved.
ARKive - www.arkive.org<http://www.arkive.org/> - is a unique conservation initiative.
<Ah, yes. I have had some dealing w/ your project. You are welcome to utilize my image work gratis, per our stated Content Use Policy:
http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMUsePolicyStmt.htm
Please make it known which images you are looking for if you need them full-size, larger than posted.
Thank you for your efforts. Robert (Bob) Fenner>
Dear Robert,
Thanks for the reply. It would be great if you could send me the original, high resolution images as before, if you can. We really appreciate your help, as they are wonderful images.
Thanks very much,
Rebecca
Real good Becca... would/could you either send along the whole pic/file name or the location/URL and locus for them?
BobF
Re: PIX/ RMF 2/2 11/15/10
Thanks very much, I will let you know when the images are put onto the website,
Best wishes,
Rebecca
<Thanks. BobF>
ARKive - your images are now online 6/7/10
Dear Bob,
<Ruth>
Your images are now live on ARKive:
http://www.arkive.org/bowl-coral/halomitra-pileus/images.html
It's great to see them on the website. Thank you again for your support of the ARKive project.
Best wishes,
Ruth
<Glad to have assisted your efforts. BobF>

Use of photos for underwater fish survey project 3/26/10
Hello crew!
<Hello... is this THE Elizabeth Wood?>
Congratulations on your website - its a great source of information.
<Thank you Dr. Wood>
I note that the photos are for personal use and not public domain, but wonder if by chance it would be possible to use one or two of them for a scheme we are running called Fishwatch Maldives. In a nutshell we are working with local divers to record species of fishery value so that we can learn more about their status in the wild. We are using small thumbnails printed onto underwater record sheets so that we can be use the divers make the correct ID when they are in the water. Its a conservation project and not in any way commercial - the ID survey sheets are being lent to divers who agree to help with the surveys.
<My content is free for use to non-commercial concerns, outfits per here:
http://wetwebmedia.com/WWMUsePolicyStmt.htm>
We are particularly interested in the groupers which are popular food fish, and you have got pictures of Epinephelus fuscoguttatus that would be perfect. Would it be possible to use this and possibly other images from your website - of course with acknowledgement.
Look forward to hearing from you.
Liz Wood
Dr Elizabeth Wood,
Coral Reef Conservation Officer,
Marine Conservation Society,
<Ah, yes. I do grant you free use of any of my content. Please make it known if you'd like other images, larger sizes. Thank you for your efforts. Bob Fenner>
Re: use of photos for underwater fish survey project - 03/28/10
Dear Bob,
<Elizabeth>
Hello, yes I guess I must be THE Elizabeth Wood of the Corals of the World and Responsible Marine Aquarist etc (honestly didn't intend for such a similar title as your excellent book - which of course I have on my shelf - ours was in the system for years before we eventually went to print!).
Anyway, good to be in touch directly at last!
That's great to be able to use your pics - thanks so much.
<You're certainly welcome>
We are still looking for a few more spp that you might or might not be able to help with as they are really more food than aquarium spp. Jack Randall has said we can use his Fishbase ones but quite a few are dead specimens so
although technically OK are not so ideal for divers!
<Good to have access to both>
There are some pics of some on your website but if you happen to have slightly larger files (100kb + would be ideal) then the increased definition
etc would help.
The ones I'm still struggling to find are:
African pompano Alectis ciliaris
Blue trevally Carangoides ferdau
Island trevally Carangoides orthogramnmus
Giant trevally Caranx ignobilis
Golden trevally Gnathodon speciosus juv & adult
Double-spotted queenfish Scomberoides lysan
Green jobfish Aprion virescens
Small tooth jobfish Aphareus furca
Smalltooth emperor Lethrinus microdon
Longnose emperor Lethrinus olivaceous
Spotcheek emperor Lethrinus rubrioperculatus
Yellowlip emperor Lethrinus xanthochilus
Leopard rock cod Cephalopholis leoparda
Squaretail grouper Epinephelus areolatus
Yellow-fin grouper Epinephelus flavocaeruleus
Flower grouper Epinephelus fuscoguttatus
Giant grouper Epinephelus lanceolatus
Snubnose grouper Epinephelus macrospilus
Sorry its a bit of a long list but even a few would help if you happen to have them. Thanks!

Could I ask your opinion about Pterois volitans/miles in the Indian Ocean?
The exporters in the Maldives list both spp yet Fishbase etc report volitans as Pacific and miles as Indian Ocean. And where does P muricata fit in?!

I'm off to Maldives the week after next and will be meeting up with the aquarium
exporters but it would be interesting to hear your thoughts before I ask them.
Thanks again for your interest and help.
Best regards,
Liz
<A pleasure to assist your efforts. BobF>
Re: use of photos for underwater fish survey project - 03/29/10
Dear Bob,
<Liz>
Thanks very much!
<Certainly welcome>
If you spread the small/medium file-size photos over a few separate messages they should come through fine on this e-mail. Then maybe if we need a large one of a particular species I can let you know and you
could send a DVD (thanks for that kind offer).
<Real good. Will be checking my files later this day for you>
I will contact Jack Randall about Pterois spp and let you know the response!
<Thank you. BobF>
Cheers for now,
Liz

Photo for HI's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy 8/18/05 Hi Bob, I am the assistant planner working on Hawaii's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy for the Division of Aquatic Resources, which will be turned into the US Fish and Wildlife Service. You may have heard of this initiative- all 50 states are developing one- and if not I would be happy to tell you more about it. Please feel free to check it out on line at www.dofaw.net/cwcs. I am emailing because we are including the Aplidium crateriferum in our Strategy and I was looking online for a photo of it and came across one you have on http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm. I am emailing to see if you would be willing to let us use your photo in our Strategy where we discuss the Aplidium crateriferum. Thank you very much for your help. Best, Austin 
Re: photo for HI's Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy 8/19/05 Hi Bob, Thank you for letting us use the photos on your website. I reviewed your use policy and the policy mentions photos taken by others besides yourself and I want to be sure that the Aplidium crateriferum photos on the http://www.wetwebmedia.com/ascidians.htm webpage are taken by you so that I give the correct credit. Thanks again, Austin <Yes, and thank you for mentioning... Please make it known if you need/want different format/s, resolution... Bob Fenner> Hi Bob, We have inserted the photo of Aplidium crateriferum to our document and it is a bit fuzzy. If it would be possible to get the photo of the Aplidium (the one where it is a whiter color) in a higher resolution, that would be great. Thanks again. Austin <Here is a tiff scan of 5 MB. Cheers, BobF>

Possible Ocean Hunting Photos? 4/22/03 Dear Mr. Fenner, Alan Dyke suggested that you may be able to help me... I work with the African Conservancy, a Vista, CA based organization that focuses our efforts on promoting wildlife protection/rehabilitation and native cultural preservation in Zambia, Africa. We will be having a large exhibit at this year's Earth Fair in San Diego, in which we'll be partnering with the Bushmeat Crisis Task Force. Our exhibit will focus largely on Bushmeat, and we'd like to show its connection to ocean wildlife. To help demonstrate this connection, we will need one or two high resolution photos of the hunting of ocean wildlife, particularly of endangered species. We hoped you might be able to aid us in supplying one or two of these photographs? <Wish I could help you. My focus is on individual and grouped images of species utilized as ornament (pet-fish), as in aquariums. Don't have pix of spearfishing, netting, line fishing at all. Will post your request on our website: WetWebMedia.com in hopes that others can help you. Bob Fenner> Sincere Thanks, Tudor Goldsmith African Conservancy 2590 San Clemente Ave. Vista, CA 92084 Ph. (760) 945-7571 Fax (760) 754-0879

Fish Photos Hello Bob, Can you direct me on where I can purchase fish photos? I've tried doing a search on the web but didn't find anything. Thank you, Melissa <The big agencies like Corbis.com sell them via the Net... we (WWM) also offer image work for sale. What are you looking for specifically and for what application/s? Have you seen WetWebFotos? Bob Fenner>
Fish Photos Bob, Thanks for the reply. Yes I did see WWF photos but didn't see a Copperband butterfly. Which was the pic I was looking for. It will be used for a business card and needs to be at least 300dpi. Thank you Melissa <Mmm, do take a look again, www.WetWebFotos.com and the name Copperband or Chelmon rostratus... do you see an image on WetWebMedia.com of this species you like alternatively? Bob Fenner, with lots of Chelmon pix>

Photo Request The Cabrillo Marine Aquarium (CMA) is a small regional aquarium located in Los Angeles. The aquarium is managed by the City of Los Angeles, Department of Recreation and Parks. We have recently undergone an expansion and are adding new interactive and educational exhibits. The purpose of this e-mail is to request permission to utilize a photograph that is displayed on your website. The picture we are requesting to make use of would become part of one of these new exhibits. CMA is a non-profit city government managed institution. If you grant us rights to use this image, would it be possible to obtain an higher resolution file (300dpi, 8x10). If you have any questions please contact Ed Mastro, Exhibit Curator. <Is possible, however I am presently in Hawai'i for the month... and the original is in San Diego... you can wait or use the one you can get from WetWebFotos (larger size... resolution?)> CMA would greatly appreciate being able to use this image and we would credit your donation. Thanks for taking the time to go through the e-mails, Marcela Fernandez

Your Underwater Pictures Dear Mr. Fenner, <Howdy> I found your photographs on wetwebfotos.com and was very impressed. I just got a new Canon 10D SLR Digital Camera and have begun taking more and more photos from my aquariums. I have snorkeled several times, once in Florida, but have never been scuba diving. <Your time is coming up... and soon!> It has been my dream, for the past several years, to scuba dive in the South Pacific. Unfortunately, I don't yet have the time or money to scuba dive. Ever since I snorkeled in the Florida Keys, when I was only 13, I have been interested in coral reefs, and the diverse EcoSystem that thrives within them. Six years ago I began maintaining a saltwater reef aquarium. Now I am starting an internet business to cater to the saltwater reef aquarium hobbyist. I will be selling well acclimated fish and corals as well as all of the aquarium supplies that they need to keep everything alive and growing well. <Do hope/trust you have "something that gives you an edge" (a better website perhaps) over/to distinguish you from your competitors> Unlike many fish stores I want to promote education about the coral reefs, develop awareness of the problems facing the coral reef EcoSystems, and help my customers create thriving natural reef habitats in their own homes. <Good> I believe that educated hobbyists can raise awareness and help more people take a genuine interest in protecting the coral reefs. As a retailer of live reef fish I only deal with well recognized collectors, and will not deal with collectors that over-fish, or use cyanide. <How will you tell them from each other?> I also grow corals in my aquariums and purchase captive bred clams and fish whenever possible. I believe that the future of the aquarium hobby will be in captive-bred specimens. <It is to a large extent> I am still missing about one-hundred fish pictures for use on my website. I am trying to provide my customers with a high-quality picture of each fish I offer on my website so they can get a clear view of what they are buying. I have attached a list of the fish I still need pictures of. I you have good pictures of any of these fish I would be interested in talking with you about the right to use them on my website. If you have a saltwater aquarium, or want one I would be glad to help you out in any way I can. Please reply and let me know if you would be willing to help me out. <We do provide image work (for a fee for commercial uses). I am asking Jason.C here to respond to you further> Attached is a picture I took that ended up giving me the idea for the name of my new company- Vivid Aquariums. I hope you enjoy it. I look forward to your reply. My e-mail address is hotmail.com, my phone XXXX. I live in Los Angeles, CA. Thank You, Dave Burr
<Be chatting, perhaps diving together. Bob Fenner>

Re: Your Underwater Pictures I appreciate your response however I cannot afford $20 a picture. I still need about 100 pictures and at $20 each that would be $2000.00. <Mmm, well, the "Net" use of a number of our pix is ten dollars per... Jas had thought you intended to make a printed catalog as well...> For that price I would be better off buying the fish at the wholesaler and photographing them myself. <Perhaps a better idea> I thought you might be able to help me out and give me a better price, or allow me to use some of your pictures and give you the appropriate credit on my website. <Uh, no... this is "what we do for a living"... and you will find (check with the "photo banks", other resources... this is indeed cheap. Many of the pix involve quite a bit of effort: travel, hotel, dive costs, not to mention photo gear, processing...> I have one friend who has already supplied me with over 100 photographs for my website at no charge. In return I am supplying him with everything he needs for his aquarium, including livestock, at wholesale prices. If you would be interested in some kind of trade I would be willing to make it worth your while. Unfortunately money is tight right now as I have been unemployed for the past seven months. I took a chance and decided to chase a dream of opening a new type of fish store that would provide hobbyists with better information and help them become more educated about the hobby and about the purchases they make. My website is not officially launched yet, however you can view it at www.vividaquariums.com/shop. <Very nice. Clean appearance, good spiels...> Your will see the pictures my friend and I have already taken. I am a photographer as well and I know the time it takes to get that one good shot- especially of a little fish who is continuously darting around. I have been using a Cannon 10D with a 100mm macro for the majority of my shots. Anyhow, I know you don't know me, but I am just a 28 year old guy getting started on his first business and I would appreciate any help you could provide. I would be glad to return the favor in the future. <My help is in the form of "printed statements" about what I would/not do... mainly posted on WWM. In your case, I WOULD NOT get involved in our trade if you are undercapitalized (or sense you lack good management, the two principal sources of all small business failures)> Attached is another shot I took of my Wartskin Angler. Sincerely, Dave Burr <What do you intend to buy your livestock, drygoods with for your business? Let's keep chatting if you'd like... as I may be able to help you define your "business model"... What drygoods lines do you intend to offer? How will you finance their purchase? That is, do you intend to back-stock much (is necessary), expediently order/re-ship. Where do you intend to "select/pick" your livestock and how will you finance this? How much money do you figure you will have "in-play" in the first months of your business venture? Bob Fenner>

Re: Your Underwater Pictures Dear Robert, <David> I thought you might be a fellow hobbyist who loved taking pictures like me and my friend do. <Mmm, among other things, I am> I didn't realize you sold your pictures for a living or I would not have asked for any donations. Actually my friend and I were able to get 70 out of the 100 remaining pictures I needed today at a local wholesaler. We setup a "studio" tank and had fun for about four hours. <Great! A related note: this is how Pablo Tepoot took all the pix for his marine book, SE Asian Companion... at Millie's All Seas in Miami...> In terms of the financing of my business the papers are signed and in 10 days I will be set to fully stock my system and all of the various drygoods I will sell. If I don't make a single sale for a year I will still be OK. I did graduate from UNC with a BS in Business Management. I have made sure to cover all the bases. <Am very glad to read this. You can well-imagine my concern in both wanting to help/encourage people in our trade, and forewarning them of its downsides, difficulties> You can check out the completed website on Jan 1st 2004 at www.vividaquariums.com Thanks, Dave Burr <Hope to "run into" you in future at livestock wholesalers, industry trade shows. Bob Fenner>

Your photos on FishBase Dear Mr. Fenner, <Hi there> I am contacting you as a user of FishBase, where I have seen part of the fantastic collection of fish photos you contributed to that resource. <Much more available. We have an image site (WetWebFotos.com) and a capacity for scanning, sending along (FTP or USPS) many other, larger photo work> By way of introduction, I work in marketing for ProAquatix, a Sebastian, FL-based company which breeds and sells tank-raised marine ornamental fish to the hobbyist market and to commercial aquaria. Our scientists have mastered the larval rearing, life support systems, and culture technology necessary to produce a current inventory of 28 species. <Wish I had been aware of your co. I recently penned a section for a book on captive culture of marines for my German publisher, Birgit Schmettkamp Verlag (the chapter on breeding and rearing fishes)... and would have included mention of your business in the historical area> Our goal is to reduce some of the pressure that wild-capture collection methods impose on the world's reef ecosystems by offering an alternative source of healthy, beautiful, and long lasting aquarium fish. <All in confluence with our philosophy (please see WetWebMedia.com, our root web> I would like ask you if you would give permission to use some of your photographs from the Fishbase website on our own website, www.proaquatix.com <http://www.proaquatix.com> , and possibly on electronic newsletters and printed media, and, if yes, if we would have to cite your name as a photo credit or if we could leave that off. I feel that your pictures could really help give our customers a good sense of what our species look like. <Mmm, no, as in not for free. We/I make my living in part from supplying image work to magazines, other media. Please see our "Use Policy": http://www.wetwebmedia.com/WWMUsePolicyStmt.htm We make our content available to non-commercial users (like fishbase) gratis, but not "for-profits". If you'd like to purchase photographs (for internet, print, trade-show use?), please make known what you are looking for and we'll send along a list of costs, thumbnails of what we have available. Bob Fenner> I look forward to hearing back from you regarding our request to use your photos. Whit Hazelton ProAquatix 6020 99th Street Sebastian, FL 32958 772.581.5510 772.581.2693 fax

Underwater Photography Dot, Bob Fenner is the underwater photographer I was referring to. He has an awesome site information and images site at http://www.wetwebmedia.com . Bob, I met Dot traveling. She is an extremely nice lady with a son whom considered pursuing underwater photography at one point. It would be great if you can be a point of contact for him in case he wants to explore this career choice or hobby choice further. <Glad to share... Not (currently) a highly remunerative pursuit, but over time, stills and kinetic imagery can be a "real" career. Dot, please have your son write me here. Bob Fenner>

Negotiating a contract with a gallery manager Hello. My name is Illaya Stephens. Currently, I'm doing a project for my business of show business class (yes that's the name of the class). Currently, I'm supposed to do a presentation for my professor. Now here's the deal: I'm supposed to be a photographer and one of my classmates is supposed to be the gallery manager. now I don't know who is going to be the gallery manager but I'm supposed to negotiate a contract with him/her. Now my Prof. gave me a list within the presentation topics: 1) How many days do you want your show in the gallery, <Usually a weekend (long) to a week or more if you are/were well-known> 2) Merchandising rights % (don't really know what he means by that question), <Basically who will pay for promotion... especially in the event there are little to no sales... that is a draw (money from you) should there not be sufficient revenue to pay for marketing the gig> 3) the percentage split. <Most of the time about half, 50:50, minus costs for 2) above... If you were well-known, maybe more like 60:40... all negotiable> Now my question for u guys is how do I negotiate a contract with a gallery manager using these following questions above? Please help me!!! I know this sounds desperate here, but the presentation start this Thursday, and I need all the help I can get mind you, I missed the mid-term exam and I'm trying to get @ least a C or a D in this class). PLEASE HELP ME!?!?!? Thank you for your time and patience for reading this. YOURS TRULY, Illaya Stephens <Practice writing a brief note/letter trying to convince this imagined gallery in showing your work, or if you're an agent, in your clients work... Bob Fenner>
Re: PLEASE READ!! negotiating a contract with a gallery manager I'm so sorry about that. I was asking you what can I write to the imaginary gallery manager. you see, you suggested that I should write a note or a letter to the gallery manager but I have no experience in photography or negotiating a contract whatsoever. I know it sounds crazy, but I'm really slow when it comes to technical stuff like this. If you can, maybe figuratively speaking, you can hold my hand with this presentation. One thing I did learn is that I'm not taking this class unless I truly know what I'm getting into (unfortunately, I was being too hasty taking this class). anyway, please help me. thank you. ILLAYA STEPHENS <I will not help you beyond the notes previously discussed... what is it that you are hesitant about here? It seems all you are being asked is to write a proposal/query to a manager, propositioning them re a showing... perhaps pretend you're at a party and just asking to use their space... what would you ask, what might they say? See the previous email. Bob Fenner>

Diploria et al. pix on WWM There is a picture of a Diploria strigosa on your site, and I was wondering if I could include it in an essay I am currently writing, and also who to reference it to. Many thanks, Josh <You are welcome to use my content for any non-commercial purpose. All otherwise unlabeled images, writing are of my origin. Bob Fenner>

South Pacific images Hi Robert, I found your information on the internet and am hoping you might be able to assist me. I work for the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF), a non-profit conservation organization that coordinates volunteer fish monitoring. We are currently in the process of expanding our fish survey program to the South Pacific (specifically American Samoa, in partnership with the local National Marine Sanctuary there). We are in need of a few images for our training and survey materials. I am wondering if you have any of these and if so, if you would be willing to donate them to us. Any images that are donated to REEF maintain the original photographers name and copyright information and are only used in REEF's training and educational materials. Because REEF is a non-profit 501(c)(3), we would also be able to offer you a one-time donation credit of $50 per image if you are a US citizen. The images that we need are: Chlorurus japanensis (Initial Phase) Chlorurus japanensis (Terminal Phase) Epinephelus merra Scarus oviceps (Initial Phase) Thalassoma hardwicke (Terminal Phase) Digital files of any of these would be greatly appreciated. tiffs would be ideal, preferably 800x500 pixels, 72 dpi. You could email them to me. Please let me know. Thanks in advance. Sincerely, Christy Semmens In case you are not familiar with REEF-- The Fish Survey Project is an ongoing citizen science project coordinated by the Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF). Divers and snorkelers who participate in the Fish Survey Project document marine life populations throughout the tropical western Atlantic, coastal North America, tropical eastern Pacific and Hawaii. Standardized training materials and data collection methodology enable volunteers to gather valid information over a large spatial scale. The data undergo rigorous quality control measures and are categorized according to volunteer experience level. Data summaries are publicly displayed on the REEF website (www.reef.org) to encourage use by volunteers and the general public. Data sets are also available to the scientific community upon request. To date, REEF volunteers have generated more than 75,000 marine life surveys from more than 5,300 sites. Traditionally, divers and snorkelers have not received much more than a cursory introduction to underwater ecology or marine life identification. Even after years of experience in the water, most divers are able to identify only a small handful of the marine life that is seen during their dives. REEF introduces marine enthusiasts to the incredible diversity of fishes found in local waters as well as the identification resources and survey methods needed to help document these species. This greater awareness leads to a sense of stewardship and support of effective management among key user groups. REEF has developed introductory slide-based training curricula for each of its project regions, which are the basis for entry-level training in the Fish Survey Project. These slide-based modules include training in fish identification of common fish species and survey methodology. -- Christy Pattengill-Semmens, Ph.D. Scientific Coordinator Reef Environmental Education Foundation (REEF) www.reef.org <Am familiar with REEF. You (and all non-profits) are welcome to my content (writing, images) free of charge. Please take a look on our photo website: www.WetWebFotos.com for these pix, and I'll ask JasonC here to assist you with a password for downloading. Bob Fenner>

Photos of the Red Sea fishes Hello Sir, <Hello Ihab!> My name is IHAB, and when I went trough the internet I explored your site which contained few lovely photos taken underwater about the red sea fishes. And I would like to have some of them for a commercial reason. <Okay> I would like to use them to produce post cards to be sold in the Egyptian market only. <Neat!> So, please find below a few questions: 1- Do you accept that??? <Yes> 2- If yes! , how can you send me the original photos (may be by mail, or by sending a C.D with a high resolutions for offset printing reasons. 3- Will it be for free or I should pay for the copyright of these photos ? <Will forward your message to Jason Chodakowski who handles such sales. They are available as scans for a reasonable fee> Thank you in advance for taking time to read my mail and hoping to hear from you as soon as possible. Sincerely yours, IHAB <Thank you for your interest. Bob Fenner>

Your photo of juvenile grouper Hello Bob, <Ashley> My name is Ashley Frisch and I am a Marine Biologist from James Cook University, Townsville, Australia. I am writing to seek your permission to use your photo of a juvenile Plectropomus laevis in a scientific publication about the evolution of color patterns in fish. The publication is strictly for scientific purposes, and will not be for sale. You would (of course) receive acknowledgement if the photo was used. Please let me know if there are any photos I can give you in exchange. I look forward to hearing from you. Ashley <I gladly grant you permission to use any of my content for educational, scientific purposes. Please make it known if the size, resolution, format is useful (on WWM or WetWebFotos), or if you'd like to see other pix of this or other species. Bob Fenner>
Re: Your photo of juvenile grouper Hello Bob, <Greetings Ashley> Thanks for granting permission to use your photo. To improve the quality of my publication, could you send a higher resolution image of this photo? (my computer will handle any size or format). <Will ask JasonC to refer you to such on WWF. Jas?> I will send you a copy of any works that include your photo, although be aware that science is slow, and it may take up to a year. Thanks again, Ashley. <As I well know. There is time. Bob Fenner>

Any help would be greatly appreciated, looking for pix for new online LFS Mr. Fenner, <Hello> I was directed to you by Eric from Sea Dwelling Creatures, and his father Bob Stearn, who will be selling us our dry goods. <Ahh, both fine friends, associates in the trade> We are currently opening an online Tropical Fish site. We plan to be the complete stop, with customer service being number one. We have encountered a small hurdle... photos of the fish, inverts, corals... etc.. We thought of copying other photos off the internet and manipulating the photo; but do not want to violate any copyright laws. <Mmm, yes... tis thievery> Bob Stearn said that you may be able to help us out in that department. Can you guide us to where we can obtain photos? Any help would be greatly appreciated. Sincerely, George Winters <Oh yes... I sell "content" of this nature in our interest. A good deal of my pix can be seen on WetWebMedia.com, WetWebFotos.com... the price for same in quantity is ten dollars per. Please send along a list of what you have in mind. Cheers, and congratulations on your new venture! Bob Fenner>

Photo Contest, good cause, big moolah Bob do you take part in Photo contests? <Almost never... my sense is that it is unfair to "crowd" others that might benefit more from such exposure> there is one organized by the Singapore Environmental Council to "generate public awareness about environmental issues and encourage the public to develop a sense of beauty and appreciation for our natural environment. <A worthy goal, expression> The prize money for the professional category <Oh! A separate category, classification> is not that great. 1St US$2000 2nd US$1000 3rd US$500 <Not that much? This is considerably more than all the magazines in our fields pay for covers, articles...> Closing date -20th October. It was supposed to be 30 Sept but I guess they were unable to attract enough participants. Let me know if you are interested and I will send u more info. <Please do. Will post to WWM and send you/them a few images for their consideration/perusal. Bob Fenner> Perry
Re: Photo Contest/SG Bob I hope I sent u the correct address to download your application form. www.aboutwe.com <Got it, thank you. Bob Fenner> good luck Perry
Re: Photo Contest/SG Bob You can download the form at this website. www.aboutwe.com .As an international participant u are only allowed in the Pro category. I will try to submit some shots in the amateur category. Hope you win some money and get to fly down to Singapore for the prize money. We have to do it fast. only 11 days left. <Will do so. Bob Fenner> Perry

Re: STI News: Getting a bang for a buck Bob We might be doing a small project with the Nature Society of Singapore. I lost your address. So if you can give it to me again I will mail you some info on what exactly we are going to do if current negotiations are a success. Perry <Ah, and we have just moved: 8586 Menkar Road, San Diego, CA 92126>

Selling Pix, Travel/Adventure Stories hi , have sold my story to a travel magazine here along with some pix. <Ah! Congratulations! Can't wait for Pete to get going on his writing career... Of all folks, he has many great stories, a good mind for relating them...> what's jack's last name? <Melroy> and I remember you had once offered to try to sell some slides for me. how do we go about that? <Can send along your annotated "portfolio" electronically with my other work, post some of it as small representations on our sites...> and thanks for the endless stream of pictures, I've been loving them. You'll be getting my second lot of pictures soon. <Ah good. Hope to be diving, photographing with you soon... some place where the water is warm and clear. Bob Fenner> ciao Parvin

Re: A Euphyllia in Redang, glabrescens (daily image/wallpaper email outs) Bob, Where are you getting these pics? <Umm, from traveling and Nikon and Fuji... and moving my shutter-release finger... Are you making a funny Rob? Bob F> Rob. ERI International

Re: looking for photo > Dear Robert Fenner, > Thanks for your reply. We have checked the photos. They were nice but the > thing is that they are not in pair. Well, so if you have a chance (while > diving) see a pair of them, take some photo of them ok? > Thanks a lot anyway for your support. > <Will do so. Thank you for your interest. Have you contacted Scott Michael > for this pic? Bob Fenner> > Best regards, > Sarayut Klang.
Re: looking for photo Dear Robert, Thanks for your reply. How can we contact Scott Michael? Best regards, Sarayut Klang. <Will send you to our publisher for his acting as a go-between. Good luck my friends. Bob Fenner>

Selling images, stories to the Dive Mags hey bob, I had written to sport diving magazine asking them whether they were interested in my pictures and an article. they replied in the affirmative and gave me an address to send the pix and article to but they wanted to see some examples of my work first. <Yes, typical> I'll send them some copies in a lower resolution once I get them back]. <Mmm, and examples of your writing against them...> but if they like them and ask me to mail the actual prints <The industry doesn't work with prints... hopefully you have slides/transparencies... Maybe the negatives of your prints if they're very sharp.> then should I expect to be paid for them and if so should I negotiate before sending the material of course]. <Always up front. Ask for their "Editorial Policy", this will likely include information on compensation> around how much should I expect for pics and an article? <As a "one shot"? A couple of hundred dollars (US)... do a few of these, keep shooting, and try selling "features" and covers...> or do diving magazines not pay at all? <They pay... though some unscrupulous types at times will try to slide... don't allow this. Bob Fenner> thanks Parvin

More U/W photo questions... Hello again, Bob. Have a couple more questions, these more related to business than technique. <Okay> I have an opportunity to sell some of my photos for a book. Having never really owned a business before, it is all new to me. I have done some computer consulting work where I got paid and had to deal with a 1099, but this would be somewhat different... So if I were to set up a photo business part-time and sell a few photos, any idea what the images would sell for? <Hmm, not to seem or be too cagey here... but "about what you can get for them". Some folks pay little (or nothing) if it/this is just a few images... all the way to paying handsomely, including ongoing royalties for use... Rarely the latter in the pet-fish interest... Some real numbers: TFH pays a grand sum of ten dollars (! wow!) per image for "all time" though not universal rights use... They consider that they can (and do) run others work fee free for once having paid for it... this is of course absurd and not the copyright law... but they've gotten away with it for decades... Other people go by a few of the photo-biz groups guidelines and pay accordingly... you can find these (and join these associations) by way of the Net, photo mag.s... I currently am not a member anywhere... At any length, cutting to a chase here, I would openly negotiate with the "producer" of this/these works and simply ask them what they consider reasonable, fair and consistent to pay for your (and others) work... > Next, I am assuming that I could purchase equipment and be able to write off the expenses. Do you end up doing the same thing for dive trips/film/processing as well? <Absolutely! I sense a Schedule C in your ongoing future...> Suddenly I'm thinking that, if I could write off a portion of this, I'd be a lot better off... <Yes, my friend... I write off one of my vehicles even as part of "writing/photography: "content provision" as an occupation> Thanks in advance for your reply. Mike Kirda <Be chatting, Bob Fenner>
Re: a More U/W photo questions... ><Hmm, not to seem or be too cagey here... but "about what you can get for them". {snip} At any length, cutting to a chase here, I would openly negotiate with the "producer" of this/these works and simply ask them what they consider reasonable, fair and consistent to pay for your (and others) work... > Fair enough of an answer. I sort of figured that there was no set 'hard and fast' answer... <Yes, you are right> >><Absolutely! I sense a Schedule C in your ongoing future...> LOL. Me too, suddenly... Have to talk to my tax guy/accountant... <Ah, good. Great to have intelligent, sensitive competition!> Thanks for your candor, Bob. I do appreciate it. <Ahh, about all I do have FLOL> Regards. Mike Kirda
<Bob Fenner>

Please visit our Sponsors