How to Photograph Sharks Underwater
My top 5 tips for exciting shark photography!
A grey nurse shark (aka sand tiger shark) approaches closely showing off its pearly whites.
Safety First
Before getting into my top tips, it’s important to keep in mind that sharks are apex predators and should be treated as such at all times. While they certainly don’t deserve their reputation as mindless man-eaters, they also shouldn’t ever be viewed as “harmless” or “friendly”. The fact is they are wild animals and although bites are an extremely rare occurrence, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Be sure to only dive with reputable operators who have extensive experience interacting with the species and be sure to always follow their rules and guidelines.
A large oceanic white tip shark swims toward me offshore Cat Island in The Bahamas.
My Top 5 Tips
Get close
Your goal should be to minimise the amount of water between you and the shark as much as possible (provided it is safe to do so of course!). The closer you can get to the shark, the more colour, detail and sharpness you will see in your images. I recommend using a fisheye lens like the Nikon 8-15mm or Tokina 10-17mm (or equivalent for non-Nikon shooters). These lenses have an extremely wide field of view and are able to focus on subjects right on your dome port - perfect for spectacular shark imagery!
2. Consider strobes
If image sharpness and detail is important to you, I strongly recommend using strobe lighting. A set of quality strobes, capable of a quick recycle rate and wide beam-angle can make all the difference in the world, particularly for those sharks that tend to swim a little deeper where there is less natural light. Keep strobe power low to avoid overexposing the shark’s reflective skin and aim to shoot upwards towards the sunlight for more interesting compositions.
Sharks are very sensitive to direct eye contact. If you want a close encounter, try using your peripheral vision to track the shark instead.
3. Avoid direct eye contact
Sharks are extremely sensitive to eye contact. In fact, one of the best ways to deter a particularly curious shark is to keep your eyes on it at all times. When it comes to shark photography, it can be helpful to use your peripheral vision to help facilitate a closer encounter. As effective as this tip can be, it’s important that you remain aware of the shark’s position at all times.
4. Shoot from the hip
I almost always recommend photographers compose with purpose and be as deliberate as possible when lining up a subject. With that being said, “shooting from the hip” so to speak, certainly has its place when photographing sharks.
Shooting from the hip refers to taking a photo while not actively looking through the viewfinder and requires you to be very familiar with your chosen lens. This technique can help you achieve more interesting compositions while getting you that little bit closer in a safer manner (It’s hard to keep track of sharks when your face is buried behind your camera!).
A shiver of silky sharks surrounds me in the Sea of Cortez, Mexico.
5. Enhance your skills as a diver!
Contrary to popular belief, getting close to sharks and capturing appealing images is not usually an easy task. Many species are actually quite shy around divers and getting close enough for a nice capture tends to require a certain level of proficiency in the water. Whether scuba diving or freediving, it’s important to move slowly, remain calm at all times and maintain good buoyancy and trim. The better your skills as a diver, the better your images will be.
A beautiful tiger sharks swims above the sandy bottom in the late afternoon.
Any questions?
Have a question about shark photography? Send me a message on Facebook or Instagram via the links below! Until then, stay safe and happy shooting!