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Shark



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Great white shark

Great white shark
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Awards

Top Shot Award
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Contest Finalist in Marine Wildlife Photo Contest
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Peer Award
davidjprosser diegoscaglione billmartin_2615 ileanaandreagmezgavinoser NancyFlemingPhotography djalmaarmelin meganhaderphotography +91
Top Choice
annecrans JenniferWhitePhotography lisalsilva kazimierzfrackowski pietnel zachbrowning rogermudryk +66
Superb Composition
SheilaT leslie57 jonasweiss tammyrodriguez_8786 Adaospina16 siobhanmarshall TduPlessis +61
Absolute Masterpiece
Burnettj elizzybeth charlesdpeters CaroleAnn Taratwist andreaolson russellgaughen +57
Jaw Dropping
debbie937 Baileysmiles murpjo CliffordPugliese toddcollier mspatsy MWhiteley +48
Magnificent Capture
Linelady cindycooperhouser gordylindgren kennyhimes cherylmuir kidiku44 Geena +47
Superior Skill
MaryMarie mytmoss mcampi JDavid georgepitner beej alef0 +18
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mariadel Pjerry johnpreston_5231 ferlong rob-nelson DocTom CCMitroff +11
Outstanding Creativity
Willard_Hutt CURUTCHET 831John xavierim1798 kayfiedler icwild Photopiltnik +9
Genius
marymwarnerthomas Chelle-s
Exceptional Contrast
davidrelph GJUNIORPHOTOGRAPHY

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Impressed
mytmoss sterretje robflipse russellgaughen N1ckBaker edraubenheimer BorgoSanBernardo +5

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68 Comments | Report
iceman2
 
iceman2 June 12, 2013
Excellent capture with beautiful clarity!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much Iceman, it means alot!
bbranyon
 
bbranyon June 12, 2013
Wow!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks for the comment Beth, such a nice surprise to be on the main page :D
photosue50
 
photosue50 June 12, 2013
Wow, looks scary
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Hi Susan, thanks for the comment. Not at all, at that split second it is exhilarating more than anything and you are completely in awe of the power it possesses.
jleiweke
 
jleiweke August 10, 2013
Congrats!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Jon!
gaz
 
gaz August 10, 2013
Great capture , where was it taken?
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Gaz! It was taken on the Marine Dynamics boat in Gansbaai, South Africa.
Krishna_Kumar
 
Krishna_Kumar August 10, 2013
congratulations!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thank you :D
akhtarkhan
 
akhtarkhan August 10, 2013
Wow!! that's a very fine catch you have got here. Its a real Shark....awesome razor sharp looking teeth and incredible Jaws. Fantastic colours and amazing emerge from the sea water. Stunning capture. Congrats on the feature.
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much :D
diporzio
 
diporzio August 10, 2013
The photo is impressive, congratulations
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thank you :D
ybuhac
 
ybuhac August 10, 2013
great shot..
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Cliff :D
AlanJakarta
 
AlanJakarta August 10, 2013
Terrific well-timed capture. Congratulations on being featured.
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Hi Alan, thanks so much, was such a nice surprise to wake up to :D
davidrelph Platinum
 
davidrelph August 10, 2013
Amazing! Would love to see a great white close up
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks David. It's worth the trip. If you do make sure it's at the shark capital of the world, Gansbaai, South Africa!
bongke
 
bongke August 10, 2013
Woohhh! Great capture! congrats on your feature photo :)
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much Bongke!
ctoshachjr
 
ctoshachjr August 10, 2013
Dang! I nearly jumped out of my chair when this popped up.Congrats
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Haha, sorry about that! Thanks so much for the comment Charles :D
drakkardarkblade
 
drakkardarkblade August 10, 2013
congrats, fantastic, please check out my works
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much Lenny, will do! I love the Mini :D
nerophoto
 
nerophoto August 10, 2013
Wow!!! Incredible!!!! Congrats!!!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
thank you :D
iceman2
 
iceman2 August 10, 2013
Congrats!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Iceman :D
d0nn3112009
 
d0nn3112009 August 10, 2013
awesome shot!!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much for the comment, I was so happy :D
JDLifeshots
 
JDLifeshots August 10, 2013
Great capture! Congrats.
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much :D
barbarabrock Platinum
 
barbarabrock August 10, 2013
Well, I would have been so excited I couldn't have snapped the picture....
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
I worked for a company that took out clients on shark diving trips so was able to go on quite a few photo trips while I was there, I was awful for capturing the moment though. I waited and waited and always gave up just before the shark jumped, this shot was pure luck :D
dixie
 
dixie August 10, 2013
Outstanding shot love it love great white sharks they are so beautiful .
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
They are beautiful when viewed from a boat :p Such misunderstood animals!
KeithBannerman Ultimate
 
KeithBannerman August 10, 2013
Nice shot
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much Keith!
FredGramoso Ultimate
 
FredGramoso August 10, 2013
Wow... What an experience!! Perfectly caught! I just can imagine the excitement!!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
The excitement for me was to finally get the "jaws" shot. I've done quite a few trips to see them and always give up waiting just before or have used up my frames per second way too soon. Finally! :D
SusiStroud Platinum
 
SusiStroud August 10, 2013
OMG, I hope you hade a giant zoom lens. Excellent capture! Congratulations on your Feature!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Hi Susi, thanks so much! This shark was really close to the boat, it was taken from a cage diving boat and the shark was really close to the cage at the time.
lisawiza
 
lisawiza August 10, 2013
whoa!! amazing, congrats
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Lisa :D
aecorbett
 
aecorbett August 10, 2013
incredible
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks Amy!
princessdi6305
 
princessdi6305 August 10, 2013
Wow great capture congrats!!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Thanks so much Diane!
maureenw19
 
maureenw19 August 10, 2013
Fantastic shot got to say it but Jaws comes to mind
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
Haha yep! Up close (from a boat) they are not scary at all though. Thanks so much for the comment :D
sywashington
 
sywashington August 10, 2013
JAWS!!!
annaphillips
annaphillips August 10, 2013
The boss of the ocean :D
RoyMacDonaldPhotography
 
RoyMacDonaldPhotography August 10, 2013
Incredible
iuliancorbulionsofq
 
iuliancorbulionsofq August 11, 2013
Awesome capture Anna!
enfys72
 
enfys72 August 11, 2013
awesome
sheacam
 
sheacam August 15, 2013
Great Capture! Well done.
bilalar
 
bilalar August 16, 2013
scary shot...congrats on the win
Wizzard PRO+
 
Wizzard August 19, 2013
This is one outstanding shot! Congrats!
SherranAndersen
 
SherranAndersen August 20, 2013
Great timing.
gunners42 PRO+
 
gunners42 August 21, 2013
excellent, Congrats!
PhotoLux
 
PhotoLux August 22, 2013
Congratulations! Well done.
PostPricelessness
 
PostPricelessness August 24, 2013
The movie...!!!
tammyswarek
 
tammyswarek August 27, 2013
Yikes!!! Great shot!!! Can't believe you were calm enough to shoot that clear with that face coming at you!!! Congrats!
Photopaul PRO+
 
Photopaul September 05, 2013
My worst nightmare! Beautiful creature and excellent shot! Congrats!
sweetpea72
 
sweetpea72 September 05, 2013
Absolutely AMAZING! :)
Mmlee
 
Mmlee September 09, 2013
awesome!
nicolaprojecteurddb
 
nicolaprojecteurddb September 14, 2013
Super capture, reminds me of jaws, the music just popped into my head when i saw this :D
michaeljones_8438
 
michaeljones_8438 September 23, 2013
Excellent shot
jonvandyck
 
jonvandyck October 14, 2013
great shot!
texaaronpueschel Platinum
 
texaaronpueschel October 17, 2013
Guess we're gonna need a bigger boat. Voted.
lisamorley
 
lisamorley January 27, 2014
Amazing but scary. Wouldn't want to be that close to one.
Lincsdna
 
Lincsdna March 27, 2014
Hi Anna! Top capture and great clarity, well done, Lincoln :)
rhamm
 
rhamm December 01, 2014
Fabulous shot. Great timing and clarity
lindabonskowski
 
lindabonskowski December 15, 2014
YIKES!!!! Great shot, but ............I would have had a heart attack!!!
hoosssam
 
hoosssam December 30, 2014
u r real hunter :D
ronzaccardi
 
ronzaccardi January 15, 2015
Join the conversation. Add a comment or even better, a critique. Let's get better together!
Natalielc
 
Natalielc February 04, 2018
Amazing photo of a beautiful, awesome creature!
annaphillips
annaphillips February 13, 2018
Thanks Natalielc :)
mattiasam
 
mattiasam February 08, 2019
scary
dinahumphreys Platinum
 
dinahumphreys October 22, 2019
Wow! What a photo! I can hear the music as I look at the shot!
vesa75
 
vesa75 November 16, 2019
wow
amanciocouto_0073
 
amanciocouto_0073 December 12, 2019
EXCELLENT!...
robwill236 PRO+
 
robwill236 December 25, 2019
nice
1katster Platinum
 
1katster January 28, 2020
Wow! Very cool shot, love it!
robertosantorini
 
robertosantorini January 31, 2020
Top.
leslie57
 
leslie57 March 09, 2020
Congrats on taking the time to capture this amazing photo,have a great day and keep shooting !!!
Pjerry
 
Pjerry March 15, 2020
Oops.....
mleskiw.wildlife_EC5E
 
mleskiw.wildlife_EC5E March 21, 2020
Looks vicious! Excellent shot!
dinahumphreys Platinum
 
dinahumphreys April 29, 2020
How exciting! Location ?
TxSunshine PRO+
 
TxSunshine May 04, 2020
Excellent shot....the gentle waters against the razor like beast .... the excitement !
dinahumphreys Platinum
 
dinahumphreys May 22, 2020
Wow 🙀
keepclicking
 
keepclicking July 05, 2020
Wow, awesome
PicPerfectPhotography
 
PicPerfectPhotography July 06, 2020
Awesome photo!!
See all

Behind The Lens

Location

This photo was taken in Gansbaai, South Africa - The great white shark capital of the world.

Time

Midday, I was restricted by boat times which went out up to 3 times a day.

Lighting

It helps when it isn't too overcast outside but at the same time it is hard to photograph at sea when the sun is too bright, due to glare. I use spot metering to make sure that the shark is correctly exposed as there is sometimes quite a contrast between the shark and the water.

Equipment

Nikon D800 and 28-300mm lens with UV filter. Polarising filters are good when you want to see beneath the waters surface, I prefer without as it cuts out light requiring an even higher ISO. This image was with ISO 500 but it's best to go much higher.

Inspiration

I spent 4 years in South Africa working at first as a photographers assistant and then as a photographer/videographer/editor with a marine conservation trust (Dyer Island Conservation Trust). I was frustrated by my lack of shark and wildlife photos despite working in such an amazing country and decided to fix this when I moved to Gansbaai. I tried to go out to sea at least once a week. Photographing sharks can take a lot of determination, patience and practice so I was determined to get at least one shot of a shark bursting through the waters surface. They are quite unpredictable and you sometimes have to hold the camera to your eye for several hours, finger trembling on the shutter release, before you get the shot. Many times the shark has appeared when I have taken a break from the camera but this time I was determined not to miss it.

Editing

I always load my images into Lightroom to adjust the histogram and add a small amount of clarity. I used to like to use auto tone but felt that it added far too much contrast so preferred to do that manually instead. I usually open my favourite shots in Photoshop as well, apply a high pass filter and an overlay to increase the detail a little bit more, and then adjust the curves slightly. It may sound like a long process but I only use minimal adjustments in each of these steps and only do it to my favourite shots. I shoot in RAW so I feel like I need to make the image feel less flat before I am happy with it.

In my camera bag

D800 and Nikon AF-S NIKKOR 28-300mm f/3.5-5.6G ED VR Lens. At least 48gb of memory cards, I prefer to use smaller cards incase they become corrupt. Cleaning cloth and spare battery.

Feedback

I would recommend going with Marine Dynamics in Gansbaai, South Africa for one :D Also don't be an ISO snob, as I used to be. A slightly pixelated image is much better than a blurry one. Patience, patience, patience - don't give up unless you are bursting for the toilet. Also spend a bit for time watching these magnificent animals through your eyes rather than your camera, you wont regret it.

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