Aloha all,
Richard's recent posting raises a question I've confronted before and I
wonder how other specialists feel and/or have dealt with it. It seems
that Richard's photo site is commercial. I fully recognise that he
deserves recompense for the time, equipment, and effort of producing
such marvelous images that can inform. I also recognise that I am one
of the most junior of wormpersons on here, yet even I have spent tens of
thousands of dollars and years learning to work with these animals. By
choice and culture academicians like to disseminate information freely
(which I support) but the waters become a little muddy when we freely
add value to a product that brings funds to others without a reasonable
quid pro quo. Since I (and many others here) make my living by working
with animals I have generally taken the stance that if the end product
is free or distributed as a low-cost educational product or purpose then
I will assist at no cost. Educational texts have purchased photos from
me before, largely because the species, location, and behaviour or
context were well-supported. It has been an important way of funding my
study at crucial times. Do the museum-employed folks have a special
time allotment for assisting public queries that have commercial
application? How do you feel?
Cheers,
Brian Paavo
