The images were taken at Red Bluff on Quobba Station in Western Australia.
I was headed to Red Bluff with my family as I knew there was some big surf on the way. This is a very remote camping location where the desert meets the Indian Ocean.
When I arrived with my family, the first thing I noticed was this huge bait ball. I could see from the camp that there were also a few sharks cruising through the bait fish. I was stuck between trying to set up camp for my family and also trying to capture this amazing moment.
After about 30 minutes of trying to set up camp, I had to quit and fly the drone. Once I got the drone in the air I was amazed at just how many sharks there were. Over 200 bronze whaler sharks feeding on the bait ball. The surf was pumping and it was awesome to see. I filmed the sharks for about one hour when I noticed the baitfish got pushed in very close to the shore. I could then see some big sharks close to the waves. It was then when I decided to land the drone and pick up my big camera and lens to try and see if I could get a shot of the sharks from the beach.
The shore break was quite large so the first wave came and I fired off a test shot to get my exposure and focus right. The very next wave rose up right on the shore and sure enough, there were 2 big sharks in excess of 2 meters in the wave. These sharks almost got washed onto the beach. I snapped away and ended up with 3 of my favorite shots. I stayed and waited for a further 2 hours and did not see them in that close again. It was awesome to watch as the surf was also very good and a lot of surfers surfing very closely without any problems.
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So the black is just fish? A bait ball, or baitball, occurs when small fish swarm in a tightly packed spherical formation about a common centre. It is a last-ditch defensive measure adopted by small schooling fish when they are threatened by predators. Per Wikipedia
This is where background information changes the whole meaning. By itself, it looks like the surfers are in danger of attack. But knowing there is a bait school in the surf means the sharks are looking for easier prey.
Very nice juxtaposition of beach houses, shore, ocean and black, sinuous bait school!
It looks like the face of a cat oblivious of a fish right above his head.
Stunning photo! Made me wonder, if the sharks are scared if they get caught in such a wave that they won't be able to get free :D Just a random curious thought :D
I kinda wondered if they did it on purpose because they enjoyed it. We'll probably never know. Great pictures though.
Load More Replies...Stunning photo! Made me wonder, if the sharks are scared if they get caught in such a wave that they won't be able to get free :D Just a random curious thought :D
I kinda wondered if they did it on purpose because they enjoyed it. We'll probably never know. Great pictures though.
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