BG Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2001 - Winning Photograph

Tobias Bernhard · Issue 3, Dec 2001 · pp. 15

Products mentioned: Nikon F90X, 18mm lens, Fujichrome Velvia

We found grey reef sharks in this lagoon on the Beveridge Reef in the South Pacific and used bait to habituate them to meeting us at a particular coral head. Over the next fortnight, they ventured closer each day, in groups of up to eight. Most were adult females, with a distinct ‘pecking order’. Though these sharks can be dangerous, we never once felt threatened. This dominant female was the biggest (about two metres long), and sometimes, out of apparent curiosity, she would swim straight towards us, then, at the last moment, gybe sharply to change direction. Once I was familiar with this habit, I could preset focus, exposure and flash and concentrate on panning the shark as she cruised in. On this occasion, she was barely 30cm from me. BG WILDLIFE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR 2001 WINNING PHOTOGRAPH by Tobias Bernhard Nikon F90X with 18mm lens; 1/15 sec at f16; Fujichrome Velvia; two strob…