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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.

More info: Instagram

#1

Sean Scott Shark Images

Sean Scott Report

Harold Summer
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Phenomenal shot! Glad you landed the drone and took out your camera.

diane a
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Awesome to see - from out of the water.

My Alter Ego
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Beautiful. Just beautiful. One nanosecond of frenetic activity, speed, and the grace of two apex predators captured, frozen in time.

NWB
Community Member
6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

my fave for sure! Id have this hanging up at home!

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    #3

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Naomie Tanner
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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

    Jessica Chant
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Thank you, I had no idea what a bait ball was lol

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    My Alter Ego
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    A life and death struggle so close to our shores that we never see.

    #4

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    LanteiaTG
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That open circle around the one shot in the center makes this already awesome image just amazing.

    Harold Summer
    Community Member
    6 years ago (edited) Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This is a Nat Geo shot. Tells a story with unusual shapes and amazing color. The hole in the bait school surrounding the lone shark is unique and compelling.

    mentor
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Is that the eye of the tiger(shark)?

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    #5

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Harold Summer
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    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.

    Mathias
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Humans are not a prey of sharks, they don't like the taste of human flesh and can't digest it well. If we were there would be huge shark gatherings at every bathing beach. Most of the attacks happen either because the shark mistakes the human for something else or because there is an encounter in shallow water where it is difficult for the shark to escape so he attacks. And sometimes they just like to play / taste which is obviously something very bad to happen for the human.

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    Erica D B
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    This photo should be in the collection "Photos Taken Right Before Disaster"

    #6

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Nikki Felix
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It's called a bait ball. It's basically a massive school of fish that swim together tightly to protect themselves from predictors nearby.

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    ForkNBeans
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    What an amazing shot of contrasts!

    Erica D B
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'm not at all surprised that the beach looks completely deserted apart from a few (stupid) people

    XxshadowkitXx
    Community Member
    6 years ago

    This comment is hidden. Click here to view.

    Probably squid ink

    #7

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Harold Summer
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Very nice juxtaposition of beach houses, shore, ocean and black, sinuous bait school!

    GoodWolf
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Love this photo! Amazing colors and the contrast between land and sea

    mariethetree
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I still don't get what the black thing is

    #8

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Pseudo Puppy
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    more people are killed every year by coconuts falling from trees & hitting them on the head, than they do from shark attacks. If anything, you should be scared of trees. ;) :P

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    diane a
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That's alot of little fish

    Katrina Gibson
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    Does anyone remember "The Blob"???... the sharks had it coming...

    Hanike Treisce
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    World War Z where sharks are the remaining survivors... >_>

    KingLapis
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    The Ocean side of Freddy Cougar

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    #9

    Sean Scott Shark Images

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    FortnitePlayerGirl
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    It looks like the face of a cat oblivious of a fish right above his head.

    Wyndmere
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That “fish” is a shark. — I see the cat too.

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    I dunno lmao
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    That looks like a bad dream about to happen

    #11

    Sean Scott Shark Images

    Sean Scott Report

    Neal Evans
    Community Member
    6 years ago Created by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

    I'd be keen to get out of the water too

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