Photographing Our Seas: Sharks and Sardines | Nat Geo Live

as a kid I used to dream about the

as a kid I used to dream about the oceans it was this wild place full of

oceans it was this wild place full of

oceans it was this wild place full of color and life home to these alien

color and life home to these alien

color and life home to these alien looking fantastical creatures I pictured

looking fantastical creatures I pictured

looking fantastical creatures I pictured massive sharks ruling the food chain and

massive sharks ruling the food chain and

massive sharks ruling the food chain and graceful sea turtles dancing across

graceful sea turtles dancing across

graceful sea turtles dancing across coral reefs as a marine biologist earned

coral reefs as a marine biologist earned

coral reefs as a marine biologist earned photographer I’ve spent most of my

photographer I’ve spent most of my

photographer I’ve spent most of my career looking for places as magical as

career looking for places as magical as

career looking for places as magical as those I used to dream about when I was

those I used to dream about when I was

those I used to dream about when I was little and it is this journey that I was

little and it is this journey that I was

little and it is this journey that I was to share with you all this evening so

to share with you all this evening so

to share with you all this evening so one of the most common questions I

one of the most common questions I

one of the most common questions I receive from people is what is the most

receive from people is what is the most

receive from people is what is the most terrifying moment of your career now

terrifying moment of your career now

terrifying moment of your career now being in my shoes at this moment must be

being in my shoes at this moment must be

being in my shoes at this moment must be really really really scary and you know

really really really scary and you know

really really really scary and you know I’ll be honest I am scared I’m scared of

I’ll be honest I am scared I’m scared of

I’ll be honest I am scared I’m scared of overexposing

overexposing

overexposing I’m scared of underexposing I’m scared

I’m scared of underexposing I’m scared

I’m scared of underexposing I’m scared of getting the Sharks out of focus and

of getting the Sharks out of focus and

of getting the Sharks out of focus and I’m scared that my editors are not gonna

I’m scared that my editors are not gonna

I’m scared that my editors are not gonna like a single picture that I’m taking

like a single picture that I’m taking

like a single picture that I’m taking the Sharks they are probably the least

the Sharks they are probably the least

the Sharks they are probably the least of my concern right now and you know I

of my concern right now and you know I

of my concern right now and you know I remember these are pretty small shorts

remember these are pretty small shorts

remember these are pretty small shorts 6-foot at the most

6-foot at the most

6-foot at the most so if sharks are not the scare is part

so if sharks are not the scare is part

so if sharks are not the scare is part of my job or what is there’s one

of my job or what is there’s one

of my job or what is there’s one creature that if it canta gates and

creature that if it canta gates and

creature that if it canta gates and large enough numbers it scares the crap

large enough numbers it scares the crap

large enough numbers it scares the crap out of me and this is what these

out of me and this is what these

out of me and this is what these creatures look like the scariest moments

creatures look like the scariest moments

creatures look like the scariest moments of my photographic career are without a

of my photographic career are without a

of my photographic career are without a camera on a stage looking over an ocean

camera on a stage looking over an ocean

camera on a stage looking over an ocean of people you know give me a white shark

of people you know give me a white shark

of people you know give me a white shark or a sharknado any day of the week but

or a sharknado any day of the week but

or a sharknado any day of the week but I’m getting ahead of myself here way

I’m getting ahead of myself here way

I’m getting ahead of myself here way ahead of myself like with any good story

ahead of myself like with any good story

ahead of myself like with any good story I think we have to begin right at the

I think we have to begin right at the

I think we have to begin right at the beginning

beginning

beginning now I began exploring bodies of water at

now I began exploring bodies of water at

now I began exploring bodies of water at a fairly young age

a fairly young age

a fairly young age hey they were a lot smaller than the

hey they were a lot smaller than the

hey they were a lot smaller than the ones I explore now but at that stage I

ones I explore now but at that stage I

ones I explore now but at that stage I thought you know they were probably as

thought you know they were probably as

thought you know they were probably as exciting as the Indian Ocean and the

exciting as the Indian Ocean and the

exciting as the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean are for me today that’s

Pacific Ocean are for me today that’s

Pacific Ocean are for me today that’s fast forward today my photography is

fast forward today my photography is

fast forward today my photography is largely anchored in conservation and you

largely anchored in conservation and you

largely anchored in conservation and you know with conservation of photography

know with conservation of photography

know with conservation of photography you have two approaches I call it the

you have two approaches I call it the

you have two approaches I call it the carrot and the stick approach on the one

carrot and the stick approach on the one

carrot and the stick approach on the one hand you can focus them the most amazing

hand you can focus them the most amazing

hand you can focus them the most amazing places on this planet and make them go

places on this planet and make them go

places on this planet and make them go wow I could not believe a place like

wow I could not believe a place like

wow I could not believe a place like Saint Joseph at all could exist and

Saint Joseph at all could exist and

Saint Joseph at all could exist and hopefully they make a connection with it

hopefully they make a connection with it

hopefully they make a connection with it so for half the year I have this

so for half the year I have this

so for half the year I have this incredible privilege to document some of

incredible privilege to document some of

incredible privilege to document some of the most amazing living realms on our

the most amazing living realms on our

the most amazing living realms on our planet however as a photojournalist I

planet however as a photojournalist I

planet however as a photojournalist I need to document the reality of our

need to document the reality of our

need to document the reality of our relationship with the ocean so for the

relationship with the ocean so for the

relationship with the ocean so for the other half of the year I documented I

other half of the year I documented I

other half of the year I documented I sort of call the darker side of our

sort of call the darker side of our

sort of call the darker side of our relationship with the sea whether it’s

relationship with the sea whether it’s

relationship with the sea whether it’s overfishing the impacts of climate

overfishing the impacts of climate

overfishing the impacts of climate change are all spills but I always feel

change are all spills but I always feel

change are all spills but I always feel like I walk a very fine line between

like I walk a very fine line between

like I walk a very fine line between inspiring and disturbing when young

inspiring and disturbing when young

inspiring and disturbing when young photographers always ask me what is sort

photographers always ask me what is sort

photographers always ask me what is sort of number one tip you can give me now we

of number one tip you can give me now we

of number one tip you can give me now we say begin in your backyard begin with a

say begin in your backyard begin with a

say begin in your backyard begin with a subject and a place that you are

subject and a place that you are

subject and a place that you are intimately familiar with in a place that

intimately familiar with in a place that

intimately familiar with in a place that you can go back to again and again and

you can go back to again and again and

you can go back to again and again and again in South Africa I had a pretty

again in South Africa I had a pretty

again in South Africa I had a pretty sexy backyard I mean I was lucky and my

sexy backyard I mean I was lucky and my

sexy backyard I mean I was lucky and my first sort of real reportage story was

first sort of real reportage story was

first sort of real reportage story was about great white sharks you know twelve

about great white sharks you know twelve

about great white sharks you know twelve years ago and when I shot this this was

years ago and when I shot this this was

years ago and when I shot this this was the sort of standard white shark image

the sort of standard white shark image

the sort of standard white shark image you know focus on the teeth aggressive

you know focus on the teeth aggressive

you know focus on the teeth aggressive dangerous wild and these sort of

dangerous wild and these sort of

dangerous wild and these sort of pictures are easy to take however the

pictures are easy to take however the

pictures are easy to take however the more time I spent out at sea with him

more time I spent out at sea with him

more time I spent out at sea with him the less I felt that that picture was

the less I felt that that picture was

the less I felt that that picture was accurate instead of the aggressive you

accurate instead of the aggressive you

accurate instead of the aggressive you know you know dangerous right shark I

know you know dangerous right shark I

know you know dangerous right shark I was I was seeing an inquisitive and very

was I was seeing an inquisitive and very

was I was seeing an inquisitive and very often curious creature the image that

often curious creature the image that

often curious creature the image that follows is the one picture that I think

follows is the one picture that I think

follows is the one picture that I think best represents the white shark to me

best represents the white shark to me

best represents the white shark to me and this was taken on all those

and this was taken on all those

and this was taken on all those wonderful winter days the water was

wonderful winter days the water was

wonderful winter days the water was clear the sea was calm and you know this

clear the sea was calm and you know this

clear the sea was calm and you know this white shark came across this little box

white shark came across this little box

white shark came across this little box jellyfish and I thought it would either

jellyfish and I thought it would either

jellyfish and I thought it would either swim through it or just ignored and for

swim through it or just ignored and for

swim through it or just ignored and for a few seconds this white took actually

a few seconds this white took actually

a few seconds this white took actually almost hovered

almost hovered

almost hovered as if it was transfixed by the light on

as if it was transfixed by the light on

as if it was transfixed by the light on the tentacle and just kind of you know

the tentacle and just kind of you know

the tentacle and just kind of you know hovered there and just looked as if

hovered there and just looked as if

hovered there and just looked as if going hello what are you and you know

going hello what are you and you know

going hello what are you and you know after she had satisfied her curiosity

after she had satisfied her curiosity

after she had satisfied her curiosity that’s 3-nothing her female by the way

that’s 3-nothing her female by the way

that’s 3-nothing her female by the way she just kind of you know turned back

she just kind of you know turned back

she just kind of you know turned back and went back into the depths and and

and went back into the depths and and

and went back into the depths and and and that is sort of how I know great

and that is sort of how I know great

and that is sort of how I know great whites not with the images before my

whites not with the images before my

whites not with the images before my next reportage was also in southern

next reportage was also in southern

next reportage was also in southern Africa again but the focus here is on

Africa again but the focus here is on

Africa again but the focus here is on sardines

sardines

sardines now sardines are a Coldwater fish and

now sardines are a Coldwater fish and

now sardines are a Coldwater fish and they prefer the west and south coast

they prefer the west and south coast

they prefer the west and south coast where the water is colder however once a

where the water is colder however once a

where the water is colder however once a year something unusual happens we have

year something unusual happens we have

year something unusual happens we have this warm current on the East Coast

this warm current on the East Coast

this warm current on the East Coast called the Agulhas current and in once a

called the Agulhas current and in once a

called the Agulhas current and in once a year it kind of moves offshore and these

year it kind of moves offshore and these

year it kind of moves offshore and these sardines migrate with this cold water

sardines migrate with this cold water

sardines migrate with this cold water northwards and we call this the sardine

northwards and we call this the sardine

northwards and we call this the sardine run and you know sardines heavily over

run and you know sardines heavily over

run and you know sardines heavily over fished over the years and this is a

fished over the years and this is a

fished over the years and this is a species that really needs the

species that really needs the

species that really needs the conservation attention but everyone

conservation attention but everyone

conservation attention but everyone thinks that lives in ten cats it’s not

thinks that lives in ten cats it’s not

thinks that lives in ten cats it’s not just the fishing fleets that follow

just the fishing fleets that follow

just the fishing fleets that follow these sardines there’s a whole suite of

these sardines there’s a whole suite of

these sardines there’s a whole suite of predators that follows them as well

predators that follows them as well

predators that follows them as well common dolphins they carve smaller

common dolphins they carve smaller

common dolphins they carve smaller pieces of sardines off the massive

pieces of sardines off the massive

pieces of sardines off the massive shoals and they pin and herd them up to

shoals and they pin and herd them up to

shoals and they pin and herd them up to the surface and you know they’re they

the surface and you know they’re they

the surface and you know they’re they form the holy grail for all

form the holy grail for all

form the holy grail for all photographers the bait ball I’ve done

photographers the bait ball I’ve done

photographers the bait ball I’ve done the run for eight years I’ve seen three

the run for eight years I’ve seen three

the run for eight years I’ve seen three so the Dolphins heard the sardines and

so the Dolphins heard the sardines and

so the Dolphins heard the sardines and they take turns you know one after the

they take turns you know one after the

they take turns you know one after the other will rush in grab a sardine and

other will rush in grab a sardine and

other will rush in grab a sardine and swim out and take turns like that

swim out and take turns like that

swim out and take turns like that amazing cooperative behavior there but

amazing cooperative behavior there but

amazing cooperative behavior there but for me sardine your honor it’s all about

for me sardine your honor it’s all about

for me sardine your honor it’s all about sharks now when there’s no dolphins

sharks now when there’s no dolphins

sharks now when there’s no dolphins these sharks have a really hard time

these sharks have a really hard time

these sharks have a really hard time they get sardine donuts as we call them

they get sardine donuts as we call them

they get sardine donuts as we call them mouths full of water most of the time

mouths full of water most of the time

mouths full of water most of the time when the dolphins are there the sardines

when the dolphins are there the sardines

when the dolphins are there the sardines tend to be herded together much much

tend to be herded together much much

tend to be herded together much much more closely working with sharks on the

more closely working with sharks on the

more closely working with sharks on the run is a little bit spicy at times

run is a little bit spicy at times

run is a little bit spicy at times especially at the end when there’s very

especially at the end when there’s very

especially at the end when there’s very few sardines left they treat you like

few sardines left they treat you like

few sardines left they treat you like another shark so you get bumped and hit

another shark so you get bumped and hit

another shark so you get bumped and hit probably every ten seconds you know if

probably every ten seconds you know if

probably every ten seconds you know if you want to get good pictures you just

you want to get good pictures you just

you want to get good pictures you just have to ignore the Sharks knocking into

have to ignore the Sharks knocking into

have to ignore the Sharks knocking into you most of the time I know I’m not on

you most of the time I know I’m not on

you most of the time I know I’m not on the menu

the menu

the menu these sharks feed on small sardines but

these sharks feed on small sardines but

these sharks feed on small sardines but I had two encounters one and a large

I had two encounters one and a large

I had two encounters one and a large dusky shark rip off my fin and swim away

dusky shark rip off my fin and swim away

dusky shark rip off my fin and swim away with it

with it

with it what’s that all about why does that

what’s that all about why does that

what’s that all about why does that chart beat another thin eye I have no

chart beat another thin eye I have no

chart beat another thin eye I have no idea and then another one I had two

idea and then another one I had two

idea and then another one I had two bronze Whaler sharks each hanging onto

bronze Whaler sharks each hanging onto

bronze Whaler sharks each hanging onto my underwater strobes and I thought like

my underwater strobes and I thought like

my underwater strobes and I thought like a Ukrainian weightlifter and I was

a Ukrainian weightlifter and I was

a Ukrainian weightlifter and I was trying to punt it they obviously like

trying to punt it they obviously like

trying to punt it they obviously like when the strobe recycles there seems to

when the strobe recycles there seems to

when the strobe recycles there seems to be electric current a kind of you know

be electric current a kind of you know

be electric current a kind of you know gets pushed out so they they love biting

gets pushed out so they they love biting

gets pushed out so they they love biting on those things this is my favorite

on those things this is my favorite

on those things this is my favorite sardine one photograph for two reasons

sardine one photograph for two reasons

sardine one photograph for two reasons one it was in clear water and you know

one it was in clear water and you know

one it was in clear water and you know it looks like the shark is inhaling the

it looks like the shark is inhaling the

it looks like the shark is inhaling the sardines and right after this he

sardines and right after this he

sardines and right after this he basically swings around and comes at me

basically swings around and comes at me

basically swings around and comes at me and you can see these little sardine

and you can see these little sardine

and you can see these little sardine heads and tails sticking out it’s like

heads and tails sticking out it’s like

heads and tails sticking out it’s like an overstuffed suitcase with the clothes

an overstuffed suitcase with the clothes

an overstuffed suitcase with the clothes hanging out that’s what that reminded me

hanging out that’s what that reminded me

hanging out that’s what that reminded me of there’s just one of those you know

of there’s just one of those you know

of there’s just one of those you know interesting visual scenes there but yeah

interesting visual scenes there but yeah

interesting visual scenes there but yeah you know that’s one of those images you

you know that’s one of those images you

you know that’s one of those images you know once every eight years if you’re

know once every eight years if you’re

know once every eight years if you’re lucky at the end of the you know bait

lucky at the end of the you know bait

lucky at the end of the you know bait ball when there’s a few sardines left

ball when there’s a few sardines left

ball when there’s a few sardines left where do they want to go in between your

where do they want to go in between your

where do they want to go in between your legs under your arms around your head

legs under your arms around your head

legs under your arms around your head the sardines are seeking shelter around

the sardines are seeking shelter around

the sardines are seeking shelter around you which is a really really bad place

you which is a really really bad place

you which is a really really bad place to be not just cause of the Sharks

to be not just cause of the Sharks

to be not just cause of the Sharks there’s actually a bigger danger on the

there’s actually a bigger danger on the

there’s actually a bigger danger on the run I’m photographing and I’m looking at

run I’m photographing and I’m looking at

run I’m photographing and I’m looking at my screen at something and as I look up

my screen at something and as I look up

my screen at something and as I look up all the predators are gone you know it’s

all the predators are gone you know it’s

all the predators are gone you know it’s just me and the sardines and we’re

just me and the sardines and we’re

just me and the sardines and we’re looking to other going what just

looking to other going what just

looking to other going what just happened you know there are two stunts

happened you know there are two stunts

happened you know there are two stunts actually swim away because they don’t

actually swim away because they don’t

actually swim away because they don’t know what’s going on that just doesn’t

know what’s going on that just doesn’t

know what’s going on that just doesn’t happen

happen

happen instinct kicks in and I go I’m going

instinct kicks in and I go I’m going

instinct kicks in and I go I’m going where they’ve gone I’m back paddling I’m

where they’ve gone I’m back paddling I’m

where they’ve gone I’m back paddling I’m swimming out of the bait ball and this

swimming out of the bait ball and this

swimming out of the bait ball and this guy comes rocketing out of nowhere as a

guy comes rocketing out of nowhere as a

guy comes rocketing out of nowhere as a bride’s whale and he comes up and he

bride’s whale and he comes up and he

bride’s whale and he comes up and he pretty much in front of me he swallows

pretty much in front of me he swallows

pretty much in front of me he swallows the entire bait bowl Oh done I probably

the entire bait bowl Oh done I probably

the entire bait bowl Oh done I probably a foot or two away and as he does that

a foot or two away and as he does that

a foot or two away and as he does that he he arches upwards and then he pitch

he he arches upwards and then he pitch

he he arches upwards and then he pitch mush just leaves the water I mean you

mush just leaves the water I mean you

mush just leaves the water I mean you know they have all this energy and he

know they have all this energy and he

know they have all this energy and he leaps out of the water to threats come

leaps out of the water to threats come

leaps out of the water to threats come up and I am more or less right at the

up and I am more or less right at the

up and I am more or less right at the left where the sardine is leaping out

left where the sardine is leaping out

left where the sardine is leaping out and I’m going oh crap so I curl into

and I’m going oh crap so I curl into

and I’m going oh crap so I curl into this little ball and I’m waiting for the

this little ball and I’m waiting for the

this little ball and I’m waiting for the sound of hearing my own bones break but

sound of hearing my own bones break but

sound of hearing my own bones break but I’ve been trained well I’m still

I’ve been trained well I’m still

I’ve been trained well I’m still shooting

shooting

shooting and the next picture I have no

and the next picture I have no

and the next picture I have no recollection I have no memory but I have

recollection I have no memory but I have

recollection I have no memory but I have this so this is all the water streaming

this so this is all the water streaming

this so this is all the water streaming out of the bride’s whale’s mouth and I

out of the bride’s whale’s mouth and I

out of the bride’s whale’s mouth and I don’t remember this somebody else could

don’t remember this somebody else could

don’t remember this somebody else could have taken this it was in my camera at

have taken this it was in my camera at

have taken this it was in my camera at the end of the day it’s very hard to see

the end of the day it’s very hard to see

the end of the day it’s very hard to see you know instill so this is sort of a

you know instill so this is sort of a

you know instill so this is sort of a some video of a colleague of mine to me

some video of a colleague of mine to me

some video of a colleague of mine to me if you get the idea of the whole how

if you get the idea of the whole how

if you get the idea of the whole how quick and how crazy a bait ball actually

quick and how crazy a bait ball actually

quick and how crazy a bait ball actually is I’m out I’m trying to get still

is I’m out I’m trying to get still

is I’m out I’m trying to get still pictures in that and you have to be

pictures in that and you have to be

pictures in that and you have to be where those sharks are you have to be

where those sharks are you have to be

where those sharks are you have to be one of those sharks to get the pictures

one of those sharks to get the pictures

one of those sharks to get the pictures so it gets a bit bit crazy at times but

so it gets a bit bit crazy at times but

so it gets a bit bit crazy at times but and this is where the birds are just

and this is where the birds are just

and this is where the birds are just using their wings and a couple of sharks

so now you get an idea sort of what your

so now you get an idea sort of what your environment is like and you sort of just

environment is like and you sort of just

environment is like and you sort of just have to have to just you know you know

have to have to just you know you know

have to have to just you know you know forget about all that stuff and just

forget about all that stuff and just

forget about all that stuff and just focus on the task at hand which is

focus on the task at hand which is

focus on the task at hand which is getting great images