Boatpix.com, service or menace

[dancing bear]

As their helicopter circled me I thought: "Cool, I am going to order a picture." It moved on to circle the the thirty plus boats I could see, and as I watched, my thoughts transformed into, "that f'r is crashing our serenity". I decided I would not order a picture from them and actually would be slightly pleased if the company fails (along with the airplanes towing banners).

What do you think, service or menace?

 

[Allan R]

It all depends

if you want a picture of your boat or not. Fot those that don't, it is a menance, for those that do, a service.

Opinions will be split all over the place on this one, the classic Ford or Chevy.

 

[BobM]

Mixed

I took a really nice photo of a Pearson 28 with the rail in the water in Buzzards Bay. I posted the date and name of the boat on the P28 Yahoo group and got an email from the owner. I emailed him two photos and both were very high resolution.

I would like to have someone do the same for me, but I don't think I want a helicopter buzzing my boat to make it happen. It is bad enough with all the jets buzzing my boat from Logan, but the airport was there first, so I can't complain.

 

[LANCE ON CLOUD NINE]

I was very upset - that I hadn't thought of it

The first time their white chopper buzzed me, I did not know what was going on. Then the pilot turned so I could read the tail and I figured it out. Man was I upset. After I clicked on and saw the price structure, I was steaming! I was upset that the business was not my idea!

 

[Jim Seamans]

We had a picture taken by

Boatpix several years ago while out on the Chesapeake. After contacting them and providing a credit card to insure the pics they sent them. The prices were in my opinion -- outrageous. They sent three pics and prices were about $300-$500 each and if I wanted the digital - it was $1000. Now I know helicopters are expensive to run but damn....:cussing:

I return the pictures and no charges were place on the card.

 

[Mulf]

Annoying but I got a fabulous pic of Dreamboat!

It's hard to figure out how the Boat Pix cameraman could frame the shot so well while in motion circling me. Dreamboat is dashing along under full sail, close hauled, and he got just enough horizon above the mast top and boats around me to frame her beautifully. It is a shot that everyone who sees it compliments me and there's no way you could ever get that kind of shot from a buddy on another boat. It is worth every $$$ it cost.

 

[Bill Murray]

Mulf -How about showing us the pic????

Mulf -How about showing us the pic???? -- We would all really enjoy seeing such a great shot.

 

[Bob S]

Boatpix.com

This is my first season sailing and if a helicopter was buzzing me I would be a little worried! At least now I'd understand what they're doing. It can't be cheap buzzing around in a helicopter taking picture. I'm sure those pictures would come with a price tag.

I would love to see pictures of my boat under sail. Maybe not:naughty: I'm sure my sail trim might be a little embarrassing. I know some of our tacks have been. My son often takes pictures some of which I wish I could have given to their owners. Nothing prettier than a boat under sail!:dance:

 

[dancing bear]

Re: Boatpix.com

I have been circled twice in Waukegan this year. I don't want to be circled by helicopters at all. I sure don't have $300 for a picture of a Mac 25, jeez, maybe if I was in a fancy boat...

You would think someone would have a forum to coordinate taking and sharing pictures of each others boats.

 

[kendall]

It's hard to figure out how the Boat Pix cameraman could frame the shot so well while in motion circling me. Dreamboat is dashing along under full sail, close hauled, and he got just enough horizon above the mast top and boats around me to frame her beautifully. It is a shot that everyone who sees it compliments me and there's no way you could ever get that kind of shot from a buddy on another boat. It is worth every $$$ it cost.

Same as most action photos of athletes. Just burn a couple rolls of film, and pick out the shots that look the best. In this case it's not so much the photographer as it is the person sorting the photos, you are not just paying for the photo, or the helicopter, you're paying for the extra rolls of film that were wasted.

I've also seen better pics taken from a bridge than some of the gallery pics.

Ken.

 

[Honeyman]

Something I have always done is keep a camera onboard and take pictures of other boats on our lake and try to get them to their owners...to the point of passing them off in a baggie at the end of a boat hook while underway!!! Easier to do on a lake, but people really appreciate it. Boatpix crashed one of their helicopters on our lake and I'm very glad they didn't take out any boats. I find them VERY annoying and their prices are outrageous.

 

[Mulf]

Response To Bill Murray

Sorry, I only bought 1 large print and it's too big to scan.

 

[wfgunn]

Re: Response To Bill Murray

Mulf, 2 ways to 'scan' the big print: use your phone camera; use a digital camera to photograph the photograph....

Sometimes you guys make me laugh about what irritates you. So, you're buzzed by a helicopter for 5 minutes or so and it ruins your day? Come on....

About a month ago off the Chicago coast I was buzzed and finally got the pilot's attention, giving me time to position sails and tack to get a picture I wanted of my boat. That night I visited the boatpix web site and yes, became a little bit frustrated with the price structure, but gave them a commission anyway. But look at what they do and the statistics for them:

Less than 5% of the photography will be purchased by the boat owners. On a good day. You've got a helicopter, a pilot, and a photographer; also, you have a staff of digital artists who actually put away those fenders you forgot to, erase those dock burns on your gelcoat, clean up the faded, worn stern name of your boat, and make your sails look brand new.... It's a production by a company who does care about their product.

You aren't buying a snapshot. You're buying a portrait. A portrait that will inspire and make you remember the sound of the wind when you were there (minus the short presence of the copter), the romance of sailing, and let you bathe in the envy of your friends as they fawn over you in the boat you love. And then you can tell them your sailing stories....

No, I don't work for boatpix though I am a photographer. Getting you that image is never an easy task, and people just don't realize that.

Wayne Gunn
Montrose Harbor, Chicago, USA

 

[Seattle Scott]

Yeh, I was mad

They circled every other boat on the water, except mine!

 

[TimCup]

Mr. Gunn-

The helicopters taking pictures haven't gotten down this far, so it's been a nonissue, for me, so far. But I appreciate your reply!!

I had no idea the pros hide all the warts and pimples, as you described. I'm not sure I'd be willing to pay their price, but after reading your post, particularly the "picture vs portrait", It's alot easier to justify the price, at least in my mind. Thanks..


cup

 

[Tim R.]

Annoying

And the quality of the photos I have seen was lousy. We have a local guy that travels around to all the major regattas who takes very nice photos that are affordable. The benefit of him being local is that he will be out on the water taking pictures on any given day. He posts them to his website and you can pick and choose whichever photo you like.

Main Sail also takes great pictures and he always offers to the other boats in our Wed. night races.