How to Photograph Sharks
Getting Dramatic Shark Photos and Video
Want some tips on how to photograph sharks? Here's a few tips for various situations. It takes time, skill and good equipment to consistently get great shark photographs. The first step is of course being (relatively) safe and comfortable in and on the water. You can't focus on great photography if you are constantly dealing with your diving equipment or the underwater environment. Once you can handle the diving you need to be comfortable with your underwater photography gear - and good equipment is essential. If you can't operate the camera and housing efficiently you will miss most of your shots while you are fiddling with dials and buttons. After you have the diving and equipment dialed in, then you can concentrate on learning animal behavior and where and how to get those great shots.
Have a backup plan
$*@# happens
Any given trip something is bound to go wrong. Make sure to bring as much backup equipment as you can manage. At least enough of a repair kit to fix minor problems. Personally I always take a completely redundant camera system, but that's usually more than most people can handle. If you are bringing a low cost underwater point and shoot or a GoPro helmet cam - bring 2. It also helps to have a spare boat motor in case a shark chews one off. It can be a long paddle back to shore.
Test your gear first (especially if rented)
You should never go into the field with new gear you haven't tested. That said, you should always assemble and test your gear before your trip. I've seen so many people rent underwater housings from their local camera or dive shop, show up on the boat and realize they were not given all the parts and wind up having to leave their camera on the dive table the whole trip. Or having to rent all new equipment from the dive operation once they got there (if they are that lucky). Put your camera and housing together and simulate the distance you will be away from the subject in a pool. Or at least in your living room. Get used to how to operate the controls before you get in the water.
Be aware of hazards and how to avoid them
Shark diving and photography means rocking boats, slippery surfaces and sharp objects (not always pointy teeth). Make sure you are securely attached to something and prepared for the unexpected. Sometimes you really, really don't want to slip.
Don't be afraid to get close
There is one given in underwater photography - closer is better. If you want a dramatic image you have to get close to the action. Don't be afraid to stick your camera right in the sharks face - this is also sometimes a necessity to keep a great white shark from following your camera into the cage or to protect yourself from an inquisitive shark.
Keep your hands inside the ride at all times
Everyone gets the same old safety briefing every time to the point people just tune it out. Shark diving isn't a ride at Disney Land. And while divemasters sometimes have your back you always need to be aware of what's going on and be respectful of the animals and the environment. Don't try to pet the sharks and know where your hands are at all times. Sharks can mistake your camera flash or your white ungloved hand flapping in the water for a fish. And fish are food. Nuf said.
Be patient - nature happens on its own schedule
If you get the opportunity to try to photograph breaching great white sharks in False Bay, South Africa patience is a virtue. You might have to sit for hours at a time for days in a small rocking boat in bad weather just waiting for the perfect shot - and you'll only have a split second to capture it. This is when a good zoom lens, fast camera and reflexes come in handy.
Leave the bubbles behind
Want to photograph the schools of hundreds of hammerhead sharks in Costa Rica? Well, you might just have to invest some time learning how to dive a rebreather unless you want to see the sharks way out in the distance - because they are scared away by the sound of your open circuit scuba diving gear which sounds to them like a freight train underwater. If you want a more up close and personal experience and the best photo ops - use a rebreather.
The shark cage is highly overrated
Sometimes you just have to get out of the cage. If you want to see schools of hundreds of silky sharks for example, you can't hang out in a cage off the side of a boat. You have to get out in the deep blue sea and let the sharks find you on their own terms. Just don't let the silky sharks try to peel you away from the group. And get out of the water before dusk...
Dive dry - use a submarine
Okay, this is a bit of a stretch as not too many people get the chance to take a mini submarine ride. Want to see some sharks in more comfy conditions - take a submarine. You might get lucky to spend an hour with a whale shark.
Great White Shark Diving Video - Use a low cost GoPro Hero helmet cam - on a stick
A cheap and easy way to photograph sharks. Stick a GoPro Hero video camera in an underwater mount stuck to the end of a pole from the local lawn and garden center. Okay - its just a little more technical than that. Here's the trick if you want to use your GoPro Hero underwater. Even though the GoPro Hero video camera is waterproof and the housing is rated for a limited depth your images will be blurry due to the curved dome port. You need to get a custom made GoPro Hero flat port mount (see the resource links below on where to get one).
WARNING: There is a little "salty" language in the video soundtrack.
Shark Photography Links
Here are some great resources for shark photography and stuff with sharks on them - like t-shirts, calendars, mugs and other cool stuff. Makes great gifts.
- Cool stuff at this cafe press site.
Get mugs, t-shirts, calendars, posters and lots of other stuff with awesome shark shots. Makes great gifts. - Great white sharks in False Bay, South Africa
If you want to see flying great white sharks False Bay is the place to go. - Great white sharks in Guadelupe Mexico
Guadelupe Island, Mexico is one of the three hot spots for going great white shark diving. - Great white sharks in Australia
Australia is one of the three hot spots for going great white shark diving. - Custom GoPro Hero Underwater Housing
If you want to use your GoPro Hero helmet cam underwater you really need one of these custom hand made flat ports. - Seacam underwater housings
If you are serious about shark photography get a Seacam housing. They are pricy but worth every penny.
Make Way for Cal Ripfin
Great White Shark in Guadelupe Island, Mexico
Whale shark in Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Flying Great White Shark in False Bay, South Africa
Favorite Great White Sharking Place?
Which is your favorite great white sharking place?
Where are the best places to go shark diving?
Wow! Great lens!
I love the pictures! Great lens! :)
I prefer the safety of my bath as sharks really scare me, but I love them in the wild sea. Fantastic photos.
I was just wondering how to best photograph sharks. Seriously, you are very brave. I stayed out of the ocean for two full years after reading "Jaws." Congratulations on your LOTD honor.
I love that "If I was a great white shark" song! I would love to learn how to play that.. cool lens!
learned a lot here this morning, great read about a topic I hadn't thought about but was immediately interested in reading when I read your topic, thank you!
Great lens. I learned a lot.
Wow incredible lens. What a great idea and cool job to boot. Keep em coming.
EEk! I don't want to see Australia as the most preferred great white sharking place, being that I live there....
Fantastic photography and just a wee bit scary..." And get out of the water before dusk..." sends shivers down my spine...!
very informative lens, thank you for sharing
I'm crazy about photography, but you'll find me snapping pictures of the sharks behind aquarium windows. :) My husband, on the other hand, would love to photograph them in person. He is very familiar with your name and your work, so I'll be bringing him back here to see this excellent page.
Congratulations on making the front page!
great lens :)
As soon as I read the title "How to Photograph Sharks," my brains answered "From dry land!" :) Seriously, though - beautiful photos and a lovely lens!
The pictures are really great.
Aliwal Shoal South Africa scuba diving, free diving and cage diving, www.sharkcagedivingkzn.com
Wow, kudos to you. I'm not that brave. In fact, I hate water, so you'd never find me doing that! But, this is an extremely unique and interesting lens...great photos! Enjoyed it a lot! :)
I'm not sure I would like to go down in a cage and face a great white, but I did go on a shark dive in Dominican Republic and was close to several sharks about 15 feet long in a canyon about 60 feet underwater. Wish I had an underwater camera to record it though. Congratulations on Lens Of The Day.
compelled or stunned would not be enough to express my admiration of what u r doing.....amazing photos....and great tips you have gathered...but i prefer to stay away from those prehistoric beasts
One thing I've found is finding sharks to watch or photograph is very difficult. Over past 30 years I've only seen a shoal of Blue Sharks off southern coast UK. I believe my son has just about every book, dvd, video on sharks. Dream would be for him and I to get in the cage and view the mighty white up close. Great Lens and definitely a thumbs up.
Very impressive and great lens. I approach already some shark but not this SIZE !
Thank you for stopping by Modern Pin up Girl Victoria too.
Oh my! Scary job! but it's something very challenging..Thanks for sharing some tips and photos on your lens. awesome!
congratulations on LOTD, pictures are amazing
Great White Sharks have always fascinated me! I don't think I am quite brave enough to dive with them though...I'll leave that to pros like you. Great photos and congrats on LoTD!
Great lens & congratulations on, Lens of the Day. You have awesome pictures, a great video and very interesting facts. I love lenses like this.
Wow! Very interesting info about sharks and great photographs.
excellent pictures...very interesting and original...sharks are indeed, fascinating creatures!
Congratulations on Lens of the Day - pretty awesome stuff here. I've always loved sharks, though I'm not sure I'm daring enough to try to get good photographs of them in the wild.
Congrats on LOTD! This one is really great, thank you for sharing!
Congratulation on LOTD. Thank you so much for bringing us closer to the sharks which we do not see up close and personal. 5 stars.
Love your page. Very unique.
Excellent post and some striking images. I run a photographic web resource, and we'd love to run articals like this, feel free to contact me.
Great lens and photography! Congrats on your LOTD! I really enjoyed the video.
Amazing shark photography..two thumbs up:)
Oh, utterly fascinating! I have only seen a few nurse sharks while snorkeling ... not sure I want to see any others, but they are fascinating.
Your photos of sharks are amazing!
Congrats on the LOTD honor.
i not like shark, nice blog is very scary i like the picture and the videos, thanks for the article review i lean here shark is very scary for me.......
Great lens wth awesome photos. Thank you for creating this.
wow! great lens, superb photos. I can see why you got lens of the day!
I think patience and safety is the utmost virtues while photographing.
Congrats on LOTD.
Congratulations on LoTD
This is one scary lens! Congratulations on LOTD.
Awesome lens! Loved the photography and video footage of the sharks.
Thanks, Paul.
what awesome pictures and a great lens. Congratulations on the lotd title. Good work
What a read! What pics - truly amazing! Thanks for the lens
Amazing photography Ian! Congrats on Lens of the Day- you deserve it.
Great article! I photograph weddings and it was a bit funny to read through your lens and see similarities...back up gear, test your gear, etc. Wonderful pics!
Congrats on your LotD! cool photo shots, but I don't think I wanna go there. Ever since Jaws, I can't even wade past my knees on the beach ;-)
Beautiful photos and a great read!
Absolutely AWESOME! Congrats on LoTD . . . well deserved.
Terrific lens. I love all the photos. I wish I as so brave.
Congratulations on LoTD! Great reading and the photos are awesome.
Very interesting, I really enjoyed reading this lens. Congrats on the LOTD!
Congrats on your LotD !
Although you make it sound extremely thrilling, I think that it's one adventure I may pass on.
I don't know but wow!!!!
Awesome shark photos and lens, how exciting! Congratulations on Squidoo Lens of the Day! And a lot of luck to you with your photography adventures.
Hi IanLauder,
Wonderfully adventures topic...and C.O.N.G.R.A.T.S for getting nominated this Lens as "Lens of the day" ...it deserveds so !!
I LOVE DIVING.I don't think there will be a lot of sharks diving in my future .sharks are dangerous to me.love your work and the pics.
I LOVE DIVING.I don't think there will be a lot of sharks diving in my future .sharks are dangerous to me.love your work and the pics.
What a courage you have to photograph sharks!
The sharks pictures are all amazing. Wow, thank you for sharing your tips and tricks. It will definitely help other adventurous photographers to safely photograph sharks. --- Blessed and I showcased your lens on my Baby Angel lens ---
$*@# Happens.. haha cool...
Do you guys watch killer whales too? :D
I admire your courage and I love diving-but not accompanied with sharks! Good luck with your work!
Amazing!
You must lead a pretty interesting life.
Normally I am pretty adventurous but, I don't think there will be a lot of shark diving in my future! Great lens though excellent pictures.
Amazing photos and a lot of courage...I don't dive so can't answer your question, but enjoyed my visit. Congrats on the LOTD
From my living room! ha! I wouldn't take photos of sharks unless they were on television or in a big tank, without me in there with them.
Amazing photos!! This is such an interesting and informative lens, congrats on LotD!!! (:
it gives me goosebumps just thinking of the idea "diving" guess i'm really not a diving fan but your shots are amazing! it compensates for people like me who are afraid to find out what's under the sea :D
Blimey! This is fascinating but completely useless to me, I will NEVER do this stuff! I'm glad that someone, somewhere does, and it was great finding out more about it.
Best lense I've ever seen!! Wow!!
I LOVE the photos and your comment that shark diving isn't a ride at Disneyland. Ain't that the truth!
The photo of Great White Shark in Guadelupe Island, Mexico is just WOW! Great lens and amazing photos!
Great lense and love that great white song too! It rocks!
Love the photos, you must be so patient and skilled to get some of them, great white lens! Congrats on LOTD, thoroughly deserved.
Well done on LOTD. You are a crazy man for getting up close with sharks. Love it!
Don't think I'll be adding that to my bucket list but what a great lens. Cheers.
Congratulations on your Lens of the Day!
Incredible photos and wonderful lens. The passion you feel just pours through the words and photo. Well deserved LOTD! congratulations. Blessed!
I really like the video. Amazing footage. Better than the National Geographic any day.
Wow super cool lens.
The photos are breathtaking. Wonderful lens.
Going in a shark cage is on my bucket list! Congrats on LOTD, beautiful lens.
super lens!
Just stopping back by to offer my congrats on your LOTD! Way to go!
Congrats on LOTD. I had a feeling this one would make it the first time I saw it. Very kool.
Simply awesome. Something I would love to try. Congrats on LOTD.
Amazing! Blessed and put on my photography angel lens!
Great lens with beautiful photos! I went shark diving in South Africa 5 years ago, in Hermanus. It was amazing, but also scary as hell! I am terrified of the sea, so this was a big thing for me. Luckily we were in a cage. I don't think I could ever do a free dive :) I do find sharks fascinating creatures though!
Exciting, wonderful, beautiful, and you had me transfixed as I read every word! Congratulations on a wonderfully unique LOTD!
Very cool! Great shots :)
Congratulations on LotD! This is amazing. Love the images. Thanks for sharing.
Whoa!!! Awesome stuff. I've been a shark fan since the first JAWS came out when I was a kid. Great lens and congrats on making LOTD
What a trip - thanks for sharing! (Or should I say, scaring -:)
Wow, some great shots and great information
Informative and very interesting. Not in my worst nightmare would I be doing this, but I'm glad people like you are. Loved the video.
Phenomenal images!
Great work man...you did a good job offline too..
Really amazing shots! And congrats on LOTD.
This is amazing. Thanks for taking the pictures so we can enjoy them.
One day I too will be down there with may be a camera. For sure I will be there though
Amazing, but better you than me.
awesome photos. it is very nice of you to share your experience.
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