ABC
Footage of the iconic Twelve Apostles on the Victorian coastline has been used in a new international tourism commercial for Greece.
Photographer Alex Cherney said he was stunned to discover Greek tourism authorities had swiped a 15-second clip of his time-lapse video of the Twelve Apostles under the stars and pretended it was the Greek coastline.
He said when he contacted them they tried to defend the move by suggesting that stars and constellations above Australia carry Greek names and the mythology of all skies was Greek.
Mr Cherney told the ABC he was stunned.
"I was contacted by friends on Facebook (who lived in Greece), who put it on a blog." he said.
"A few people saw the video as well, recognised my video in it and contacted me as well.
"The video is from 2010 when I was at the Twelve Apostles and was lucky enough to get a clear night to photograph them under the stars."
The tourism video is a dramatisation of an American businessman who tells the audience of his holiday to Greece.
The man described the country's ancient history and beautiful landscapes.
When the Twelve Apostles vision is used, the man says "and when the day is done, the moon and her stars paint the sky with brilliant constellations named from Greek mythology by ancient sailors navigating their way from island to island".
'Almost all the world's names originated from Greece'
The Greek National Tourism Organisation has defended the use of the footage and says it will keep the world-famous Victorian tourist destination in its campaign.
"The video is a dramatised narration to the presentation of Greece from an intimate perspective on all mankind, mythology, gods, heroes and all those elements which "gave" the Greece humanity," it said in a statement.
"The creator and artistic director of production explains that in line with the audio narration of this scene, consciously used a shot from Australia, the shot of the starry sky, to support artists, what the narrator describes.
"That almost all the world, wherever you turn around your eyes, you will meet an idea, a name that originated from Greece.
"Even the skies of Australia in the southern hemisphere, explains the artistic creator, when lift your eyes open, you will see stars and constellations that carry Greek names.
"The mythology of the sky at all latitudes and longitudes of the earth is Greek."
Mr Cherney managed to see the funny side of the the response.
"The first thought that came into my head was a quote from the father in the film My Big Fat Greek Wedding – 'give me any word and I'll prove it is Greek'," he said.
"It's OK to make a mistake and then correct it, seven years ago when I became interested in astronomy I wouldn't have been able to tell that was not the Greek sky.
But he said the Twelve Apostles were easy to spot.
"That's fine to make a mistake, but coming up with an excuse or an explanation like that is funny," he said.
"I spent more time smiling and laughing about it than being serious.
"I think there are enough beautiful places along the Aegean Sea in Greece, they don't really need another one."
Mr Cherney said Greek authorities did not initially ask for permission to use the video, but since contacting them he has been paid for its use.
Greece claims Victorian landmark
