Open wide! Staring down into the lens, these extraordinary images of
feeding Lemon sharks are a sight to behold.
For full story and pictures:
Captured near Tiger Bay in the Grand Bahama Bank, underwater
photographer Eric Cheng has spent the last eight years getting up
close and personal with sharks of the Bahamas.
Diving in a feeding frenzy with up to 30 lemon sharks, Eric places his
lens inches from the open jaws in order to get these spectacular images.
“Its always exciting,” says the 33-year-old Taiwanese-American.
“Being in the water with thirty or more lemon sharks can be a little
intimidating at first. They swarm all around you, and in some cases,
will actually come close enough to bump into cameras.
“It’s strange because it’s easy to have a false sense of security with
lemon sharks.
“I have to constantly remind myself that they are also large animals
with sharp teeth.
“Although nothing is likely to happen, it’s important to stay alert
all the time.”
Distinctive by their two dorsal fins, Lemon sharks (Negaprion
brevirostris) are can grow up to ten feet in length.
Synonymous with the tropical waters of the Bahamas, Eric will spend
weeks at a time attempting to get the perfect shot.
“Underwater photography is all about being as close as possible,” he
says.
“I have been going to the Bahamas to photograph sharks since 2002
because it is one of the best places on the planet to photograph large
sharks.
“It’s typical to photograph five or six species of large sharks in a
single trip.
“Most of these shots were taken mere inches away from my camera’s dome
port (the glass element at the front) as lemon sharks are baited in
with fish.
“We bring the scent of food to the sharks and them swim in over and
over again.
“Although they look aggressive because their teeth are visible, (even
when their mouths are closed), they are calm in temperament.”
Despite their menacing demeanour, Lemon Sharks mainly feed on bonefish
and molluscs, though have been known to attack smaller sharks, rays
and sea birds.
Even so, Eric is careful not to place himself in unnecessary danger.
“The split images showing the shark’s face out of the water are taken
at the surface because its a bad idea to be at the surface when sharks
are in the water,” says Eric.
“It’s a vulnerable place to be, and sharks almost always investigate
floating things.
“In the past, I would simply stand on the “swim step” at the back of
the boat, which sits in a few inches of water.
“We tie fish scraps onto fishing lines (no hooks) and bait lemon
sharks in as close as possible.
“When one opens its mouth to “snap” at the fish, I take the shot.
These snaps literally last a fraction of a second, so timing is
critical.
“Recently, the technique has been changed.
“These days, all surface shots of lemon sharks are done via “polecam”,
with cameras mounted at the end of long poles.
“This prevents any possible accident.”
Aside from this photpgrahic exploits, Eric is the editor and publisher
of Wetpixel.com, and is technical advisor and photographer for Sea
Shepherd Conservation Society.
In October, Eric be travelling to Japan on an expedition to photograph
sperm whales.
Words by Jack Fletcher
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