shark tales

Shark feed in South Africa

Text and photos by Brandi Mueller On one of my recent dive trips, a post-diving dinner conversa- tion turned to capturing epic shark photographs. A magazine photo editor was in our group, and I wanted to know how pho- tographers got those perfectly lit, very close shots of sharks, which is typically an animal that is quite shy around divers. He told me shark feeds, or using bait to lure the sharks, is one of the only ways to get sharks close enough for those types of photos. There are limits of light in and strobes and video lights only go so far, so getting them to come Shark Diving close is necessary. — Tips on Photographing Sharks

There are few places in the world where one can see sharks quite close naturally then there is the super lucky dive where must sound like a freight train to sharks, dive guide, sometimes a bucket of bait is Before the dive (without divers changing the natural a curious shark comes close. But mostly, and they know we are there long before opened at the end of the dive, or some When you take part in a shark dive, environment with food) such as the sar- sharks do not like us. We are big and we ever see them, so we often do not are not fed at all with a container of bait chances are you are doing something dine run in South Africa where huge bait loud (all those noisy bubbles), and when see them. used only to keep curious sharks nearby. that has been done many other times balls attract sharks. Being in the right time they see or hear us, they swim away. Enter the shark dive, where bait is used For photographers and videographers, by lots of other people. Get as much and place for large migration events, like Sharks have a sensory organ called a lat- to lure sharks to a specific spot and divers these dives are amazing opportunities to information as possible about the dive the hammerheads that pass through the eral line system that allows them to sense can enjoy the spectacle.* Sometimes, get close to sharks, and here are some before you go. What depth is the dive Galapagos, is another opportunity, and movement and vibration in water. We the sharks are actually fed by a trained tips to get the best photos. at? How long is the dive? How are divers

63 X-RAY MAG : 73 : 2016 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Sometimes we are so focused on the action in front of us that we don’t realize we are also capturing distractions, such as the bubbles of a diver in front of you (left); Putting water in front of the sharks can shark tales give the viewer a sense of a shark in moving forward (below); Brandi Shark Dives Mueller in the great white shark cage, South Africa (center inset)

the show. There may be a coral or rock amphitheater at your back, and divers line up so no one is in front of each other. Not swimming around the feeding area (unless permitted) keeps both the sharks from being scared away and other divers from getting in the way.

Chum. Do not touch the chum. Your dive guide might be hand-feeding the sharks, and yes, they are probably get- ting closer to the sharks than you. But they have been trained to do this and have years and hundreds of dives prac- ticing this. Most dive guides for shark dives know individual sharks based on their looks and behaviors—they know

arranged (is there a better spot for sharks safe. taking photos?) Consult with the dive The rules include where "divers operator, tell them what you hope should position themselves", which to capture on the dive (sometimes hopefully will keep other divers from they will place you in the best spot being directly in front of you so you for photos just by letting them know do not end up with mostly shots of that’s your interest.) other divers. Following the guidelines briefing was given that directed Usually, you will want to use the for that particular dive also leads to divers not to wear anything colorful widest angle lens you have, as the the sharks coming as close as pos- or shinny (no jewelry), "to wear black action usually takes place over a sible without being scared away. gloves," not to flail around and to large area. A quick Google search Sometimes all it takes is one diver have good control. will usually bring up hundreds of who swims out into the middle of a Sharks are curious and colors, shiny images from popular shark dives, shark feed and all the sharks disap- objects, and looking like an injured if you want to see other photogra- pear. Don’t be that guy, or let your seal make them want to check you phers’ images. Powerful strobes are buddy be that guy. Finally, do not out. Ungloved hands that are flap- recommended—but be ready to turn be afraid to ask questions. The dive ping around can also appear like lit- them off if there is a lot of backscat- guides want to help you have the tle fish in distress, which are a favorite ter or the sharks are too far away for best shark dive they can give you so shark snack. them to be useful. Coming to the you can get the photographs you dive prepared is the first step. hope for. During the dive Once at the dive shop or dive Following the rules is also important Follow the above rules. (Trust me, site, listen to your dive guide (they for your own safety. Certain types of the dive guide wants you and eve- have done this before). Be sure to sharks exhibit different reactions to ryone else on the dive to get amaz- pay attention to the rules and follow divers. When I participated in diving ing photos and have a great dive.) them, as they are meant to keep you with tiger sharks (without a cage) in Often shark feeds are set up so that safe, and more importantly, keep the South Africa, an extensive pre-dive all divers will have a good view of Showing the shark and the bait can help a viewer understand what was happening during this experience.

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Shark feed, Roatan, Honduras (left); Cropping too tight on a shark at center of photo is not very interesting (above)

bait bucket, or are going overhead, which can Cropping the same photo with more negative space in of the dive guide lead to dark shark shadows in front of the shark implies motion controlling the bait sunbursts if it is a sunny day. If and the opening of you are sitting at the edge of the group, problem on any dive, and strobe posi- the bucket. Usually, you might be able to get some single tions can be a key factor. Make sure the you can also get sharks to your side as well or sharks that strobes are as far away from the cam- some shots of indi- pass directly in front of you. era port as possible and angled to help vidual sharks. Look reduce backscatter. If the shark action up and see if any Backscatter. Backscatter can be a is taking place further than your strobe light will reach, the strobes are not adding any ben- efit other than cre- ating backscatter. which sharks they can get close to Test shots. Snap a few test shots and In this case, you and which ones not to. They also know look at your camera screen to make may want to turn behaviors to watch for (you don’t have sure you like what you are getting them off and take that experience). (I know, it’s hard to take your eyes some natural light off the action in front of you, but shots. Try some Scouting the scene. After the initial rush do try to check the screen during shots with them of, “Oh my goodness, there are sharks the dive). Also be aware that small on and some with everywhere!” —try to take in the whole bubbles on the lens of your camera them off. scene. Where are the other divers? need to be gently brushed away or Where are their bubbles? Hopefully, not they will appear as dots (similar to Negative space. right in front of you, getting in your pho- backscatter) in your photos. Don’t forget tos. In which areas are the sharks most about negative concentrated? Think about which of Angles. Try different angles—which space. Negative these things you want to portray in your sometimes can be hard because space can help photos. Most of the time, the shark action usually you are directed to stay in balance a photo, lasts the entire dive, so you have the time the same place, but you can move especially in the to plan and execute the shots you desire. your camera to shoot from differ- chaotic mess of ent angles. In some shots, you will sharks, divers and Distractions. Be on the lookout for dis- want divers with the sharks, in order fish that occur tractions. There is nothing worse than only to show perspective, such as how during shark dives. seeing what you want to see on a dive, close the sharks get to the divers. If you can get the such as the sharks right in front of your This can help your viewers to get a surface in a shot, lens, but then after the dive, noticing that feel for the whole set-up of the dive it can help viewers there was a diver slightly lower and on (lots of sharks, lots of divers). Using the Rule of Thirds by positioning a shark at the inter- to feel as if they your right and their head and bubbles section of lines in a cropped image can create a more are underwater are in every shot. Bait bucket. Get some shots of the If sharks are swimming overhead, you may be able to single out interesting composition. with you on the a shark and get photos with less chaos and at a different angle.

65 X-RAY MAG : 73 : 2016 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO Feeding at the end of a shark dive— the opening of a bait bucket is when action happens quickly shark tales (left); Shark feed at Osprey , , Australia (below)

days that don’t do even a little a shark that did not make it touch-up. Shooting underwa- entirely into the frame. ter can be hard, especially in the chaos of a shark dive Cropping. Cropping is also a where there are sharks every- great tool that can be used where, people and bubbles to create different effects. everywhere, backscatter, The Rule of Thirds suggests lighting issues, etc. A little edit- that images are more aes- ing can help you achieve the thetically pleasing when the same ideas already discussed subject is not in the center of that weren’t exactly executed. the photo. This is achieved by drawing three imaginary lines Backscatter. An obvious edit is top and bottom, dividing the removing backscatter, as even image into thirds vertically and when shooting without strobes, horizontally, and placing the you are likely to have some subject at the intersection of spots from sun-lit particles, those lines. Usually, it is easier bubbles on your lens or dust for us to focus and take a shot on your sensor. Sometimes, when the shark is directly in the the clone tool may be used to center of the viewfinder, but remove a distracting remora, that does not always make divers’ bubbles, or a part of for very interesting images. dive. Having water in front of ing like having done a dive to a shark can imply motion or really understanding it. And show that the shark is moving nothing beats having seen somewhere in an image. photos you took on one dive, If a bait bucket is opened at noting what you liked and the end of a dive, there is usu- what you did not like, and ally quite a rush of activity that then being able to do it again, happens very quickly. Usually, to improve your shots. the dive guide gives some sort of signal that this is about to After the dive happen, so you can have your —Post processing camera ready. Now you are home, the post- shark dive adrenalin is still rush- Shallow dives. You do not ing, and you can’t wait to look always have a choice, but at your photos. You download, shark dives that take place in and wow, you took 1,200 pho- shallower waters are better in tos…in one dive. Well done! terms of lighting and color. You Going through them takes can also stay longer on shal- longer than the dive itself did, low dives, as you go through but after initially deleting the air more slowly and have more obviously bad shots, you still no- time. have plenty to choose from. Ideally, we always want Repeat dives. Another way to shoot a perfect image in to get great photos is to do camera, but you will be hard- the dive twice, if you have pressed to find many under- the opportunity. There’s noth- water photographers these

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Converting a photo to black and white (right) can add contrast, texture and drama, saving a photo that is very blue (below)

Cropping and moving the photo to follow the rule of thirds is an easy White balance. Post-production ance function in an editing pro- way to add balance and interest white balancing can be a savior in gram after the dive. to a photo. bringing some color back into those Negative space can also be photos where everything looks Black and white. Sharks and shark adjusted through cropping to help blue. Even with strobes, sometimes dives are great for converting to add balance. By putting negative the sharks are further away than black and white. People are drawn space in front of a shark or other strobe light will reach. Manually to monotone images for many large or fast moving subject can white balancing underwater can reasons, including how it makes imply motion or show that the shark help, but can be time consuming, images look like they have more is going somewhere, and this can so if you didn’t get around to doing contrast and texture, and possibly easily be done by moving the shark it on the dive, you may be surprised more implied drama in an image. to one side of the photo so that how much color contrast you can Going black and white can also blue water in front of it. get back by using the white bal- be a great way to save a photo that appears extensively blue and post-processing white balancing doesn’t help. Converting to black and white and increasing contrast, darks and lights can add much needed contrast to an otherwise blue-on-blue photo.

Sometimes, we find that the 1,200 photos we took on a shark dive all appear very similar and a little bit of editing can create different effects and add variety to your photos. What you edit and how much you edit is at your discre- tion, as the artist behind the image. Extensive editing—especially the removal or addition of people, ani- mals, and large objects—is some-

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Shark feeds at Roatan, Honduras (right), in Turks and Caicos Islands (far right) and in South Africa (lower right)

times frowned upon, as it chang- of a photo is for artistic purposes Ragged tooth sharks: South es the truthfulness of an image. only, then edit away. Be pre- Africa; and North Carolina, USA But it all comes down to what pared describe your edits, espe- you are trying to portray to your cially when entering photos in Blacktip reef sharks: Yap and viewers. If you want to document contests, as many have very spe- French Polynesia a shark or a dive, then extensive cific rules on what can and can- editing may show what wasn’t not be done, post-production. Oceanic whitetip sharks: actually there. But if the object Bahamas Where to go There are many Tiger sharks: South Africa and Change your settings, change popular places Bahamas your strobe angle (or turn it off for to shark dive and a few shots), try video—whatever, many difference Blue and mako sharks: South really, just do something else. That species of sharks Africa; US Atlantic Coast; and way when you get home, your that are possible California, USA photos won’t all be the same. to see. Some are You’ll thank me later, I promise.  seasonal, so it is Grey reef sharks: Turks and Caicos always good to Islands; Roatan, Honduras; and * Disclaimer check when the the Great Barrier Reef, Australia You may have noticed in this arti- best time and cle that there was no mention of place is to see As a final tip, I want to stress that the heated debate over using a certain shark, while you are photographing bait to entice sharks for these so you don’t get shark dives, remember to try dif- types of dives. It was hard to write skunked. Below ferent things on your dive. These about photographing shark dives are a few exam- dives are one of the rare occa- without discussing the controversy ples. sions where you are likely to involved in altering a natural habi- have lots of time to photograph tat, and possibly shark behavior, Great white sharks: the same subject. It is easy to with bait and the presence of Sunsets and smiles included dive vacations! South Africa; Baja, get over-excited and just snap, many divers. Clearly, there are Mexico; and snap, snap the same shot over two sides to this story and, as Australia and over. I like to take the first always, a right way and a wrong sure to check out the next issue in the Marshall Islands. When she’s 15 minutes of the dive to “snap, way to do things. The best solu- to read: “To Shark Dive or Not to not teaching scuba or driving Roatan, Bay Islands, Honduras Bull sharks: snap, snap” and be awed at the tion I came up with is to separate Shark Dive.” boats, she’s most happy trave- Phone: +504 9885-0840, +617 391-8338 email: [email protected] Bahamas, Mexico amazing experience. After that, the topics and discuss the heated ling and being underwater with a www.turquoisebayresort.com and South Africa I stop for a second and think debate on shark dives in a sepa- Brandi Mueller is a PADI IDC Staff camera. Visit: Brandiunderwater. about what I could to differently. rate subsequent article. So, be Instructor and boat captain living com.

68 X-RAY MAG : 73 : 2016 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO shark tales Large sharks benefit from marine reserves Expansion of protected areas into US federal waters could safeguard core home range areas used by bull, great hammerhead and tiger sharks.

Current research has shown whether these highly mobile that are fully protected from that waters off Florida and shark species would benefit fishing; and for the great the Bahamas are important from spatial protection, such hammerhead and tiger sharks pupping and feeding grounds as marine protected areas tracked, only 18 percent and for several sharks, providing (MPAs). 35 percent, respectively, of them with the critical habitat The team examined shark their core use areas were cur- required for the conserva- movements in core habitat rently protected. The study tion of these slow-to-mature use areas, or CHUAs, where also found that the majority of ocean animals. the sharks were spending the the CHUAs utilized by all three Researchers at the University majority of their time, in rela- shark species were within the of Miami (UM) Rosenstiel tion to zones that prohibited US EEZ. School of Marine and fishing or were these sharks The findings suggest the Atmospheric Science studied were already fully protected expansion of protected areas the core home range of 86 within areas of the United into US federal waters would bull, great hammerhead and States and Bahamas exclusive safeguard all of the core tiger sharks tagged in waters economic zones (EEZs). home range areas used by off south Florida and the The results show that none these three species of sharks. northern Bahamas. The aim of the tracked bull shark’s  SOURCE: UNIVERSITY OF MIAMI of the study was to find out regional CHUAs were in areas

NEIL GELINAS/NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC

A natural rock formation known as “Darwin’s Arch” protrudes from the water southeast of Darwin Island. The waters around the small, remote islands of Darwin and Wolf contain the largest biomass of sharks on the planet.

Shark hotspot tourism industry and to the Within the 138,000 sq km well-being of these top preda- Largest shark biomass found Galapagos Marine Reserve tors, scientists from the Charles (GMR), the far northern islands Darwin Research Station of Darwin and Wolf represent (CDRS) and the National Geo- a unique "hotspot" for sharks graphic Society urge strong in the Galápagos Islands and other pelagic species. An enforcement of the new ma- ecological monitoring pro- rine sanctuary in a study they gram has visited the islands just published in the journal Northern Galapagos islands of Darwin and Wolf are home to the largest shark biomass over the past 15 years with PeerJ. reported to date. Despite the large shark biomass, the abundance of reef fishes in this a strong sampling focus to Although Darwin and Wolf survey reef fishes and inverte- are within the GMR, they were area has been severely reduced because of excessive fishing. brate communities. However, not fully protected from fishing no study to date has exam- until March 2016. Given the Overfishing has reduced biomass of ing recovered after full protection at the cross-roads of major ined extensively the abun- ecological value and the eco- most sharks and other large preda- from fishing. systems that bring both warm and dance, size and biomass of nomic importance of Darwin tory fishes worldwide by over 90 cold waters. From the northeast, the sharks and other large preda- and Wolf for the dive tourism percent, and even remote loca- Crossroads of currents Panama Current brings warm water; tory fishes around Darwin and industry, the current protection tions have been severely impacted. The oceanographic setting surround- from the southeast, the Peru current Wolf. should ensure the long-term However, a few localities worldwide ing Galapagos results in a wide brings cold water; and from the west, conservation of this hotspot of still maintain large abundances of range of marine ecosystems and the subsurface equatorial undercur- Enforcement needed unique global value.  top predatory fishes due to either populations. Galapagos is the only rent (SEC) also brings cold water from Given how important the SOURCE: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC being remote and unfished, or hav- tropical archipelago in the world the deep. Galapagos are to Ecuador's PRISTINE SEAS

69 X-RAY MAG : 73 : 2016 EDITORIAL FEATURES TRAVEL NEWS WRECKS EQUIPMENT BOOKS SCIENCE & ECOLOGY TECH EDUCATION PROFILES PHOTO & VIDEO PORTFOLIO shark tales Coastal marine parks not enough to protect large sharks

A study tracking the migratory patterns of tiger sharks across the Southwest Pacific reveals that coastal marine parks provide only brief protection for these important marine predators, while oceanic reefs, vital to their ecology, are overlooked.

PETER SYMES PETER Knowledge of the habitat Seaf. The study looked at sharks with satellite and use and migration patterns migratory movements and acoustic tags undertook of large sharks is important fidelity to specific reefs for wide-ranging movements for assessing the effective- tiger sharks tagged in New up to 1,114km across the ness of large predator Marine Caledonia, the east coast of Coral Sea. One 3.7m female Protected Australia (the tiger shark was recorded to Areas (MPAs), Understanding the Great Bar- a previously unknown depth vulnerability to rier Reef) and of 1,136m. The Chesterfield fisheries and habitat-use and oceanic reefs Islands appear to be impor- environmen- migration patterns of in the centre tant habitat for sub-adults tal influences, of the Coral and adult male tiger sharks. and manage- large sharks is extremely Sea. Thirty- Tiger sharks are often consid- ment of shark– important for assessing three tiger ered to be a reef-associated human inter- the effectiveness of sharks (1.54 to "coastal" species that exhibits actions. 3.9m in total seasonal and diel visits to sharks prefer small meals A four-year Marine Protected Areas. length) were reef lagoons when traversing study by shark tagged with between coral shoals and at- New study shows that most coral reef sharks eat prey that are smaller than a burger, research scientist, Dr Jona- passive acoustic transmitters olls. On coastal reefs, however, and typically eat small fishes, mollusks and crustaceans. than Werry, in collaboration and their localized move- all of the monitored tiger sharks with the French government, ments monitored on receiver were found to be transient.  Researchers from James Cook chemical structure of the sharks' chain, but they are not the last link followed the movement of arrays. SOURCE: PLOS ONE University's ARC Center of body tissue actually matched in the food chain. In most cases, tiger sharks across the Coral From 2009 to 2013, 14 Excellence for Coral Reef Studies closely with that of large reef the top predators are tiger sharks, examined stomach contents of fishes such as groupers, snappers hammerhead sharks, or reef sharks and conducted chem- and emperors. people," Rizzari said. ical analyses of shark body tissue In the case of reef to find out what they had been Not apex predators sharks, the dietary analy- eating. In turn, this means that reef sharks ses suggest they should Somewhat surprisingly after do not occupy the apex of coral be reassigned to an al- pumping sharks' stomachs to iden- reef food chains, but instead have ternative trophic group tify the contents of the last meal, functional roles similar to those such as high-level meso- the most common thing to find other large predatory fishes. predators. This change was in fact, nothing. Co-author of the study, Dr Justin will facilitate improved "These results suggest that reef Rizzari, said the new research understanding of how sharks eat small meals infrequently changes how scientists think reef communities func- and opportunistically," Lead au- about food webs on coral reefs tion and how removal of thor, Dr Ashley Frisch said. and acts as a reminder that large, predators (e.g., via fish- To understand what the sharks conspicuous predators are not al- ing) might affect ecosys- were eating over longer periods, ways at the top of the food chain. tem properties.  the researchers analyzed shark "We now know that reef sharks SOURCE: CORAL REEFS body tissue. They found that the are an important link in the food

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