Sharks are commonly misunderstood. Captured for their fins, demonized by Hollywood and sensationalized in the media by the rare shark attack, these incredibly beautiful animals have had their fair share of hardships in this world. As a scuba diver and an underwater photographer, I am familiar with conservation efforts and discussions surrounding the need to protect the diminishing populations. However, I understand that for the average person who is not exposed to the admirable efforts to protect sharks, and who has never been swimming or diving with them, sharks are scary. Therefore, I believe that as a photographer and a diver, I have a duty to join the efforts of others in my field to help deconstruct some of the harmful misconceptions that are leading to their demise.
In my experience, showing people images of humans with sharks naturally ignites a line of questioning that organically leads to me saying, “Sharks don’t find us particularly tasty.” Upon further explanation, my hope is to alleviate some of the present fear, and to encourage them to experience these incredible animals for themselves.