Shark vs Camera - guess which won! lol

[bottlefish]

Try this link instead for the article:

Nikon D80 Shark Photography Expedition Bahamas

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by Bardo

Let's also not forget that the bite pressure of a shark isn't that much different from our own

I have had the "bite pressure" of a Moray on my arm and i can assure you that it wasn't pleasant, quite spoilt my liveaboard trip, it did.

Where else has this been seen? TV anywhere? Newspapers anywhere? No?

It's Photoshop bollocks and before anyone tells me that a Tiger can't bite through a strobe when it can bite through a leg, please pull my other one.

Anyone remember the GW having a go at a Navy Seal on the ladder of a helicopter in front of the 'Frisco bridge many years ago? That one was mirror image and easily identified as a result.

Bah!

[arfy]

Er actually, I think you'll find that it's highly unlikely to be 'Photoshop bollox'

I was lucky enough to be on one of these very Tiger Shark trips run by Jim Abernethy, in Feb 2007 - it is not at all unusual to have a Tiger Shark grab a DSLR camera and swim off with it (hence we're advised not to wear a lanyard to the camera, unless you fancy a nice tiger shark ride)

Thankfully they tend to get bored of them after a short while and drop them. In fact, the odd one or two have actually taken to depressing the shutter while the cameras are in their mouths.

I've seen the photos they've taken.....all I can say is that Tiger Sharks make sh1t photographers, though perhaps with a little guidance and practice.....

[Lou]

Well, I see n reason to believe it has been 'Shopped - quite the opposite.

Sharks tend to be either annoyed or intrigued/attracted by electrical impulses....like those generated by digital cameras and especially by strobes, so for a tiger to grab at a strobe for an investigation is by no means odd.

Secondly a shark can mouth gently when investigating, the usual problem is that even a gentle mouth by sharp sharky teeth can damage soft skin, but it wouldn't crush a strobe casing.

Finally, if someone did Photoshop that pic, they went to way more effort to do so than the usual fakes. The angle of the camera and strobe arms is just right for a rig that has been yanked out of someones hands is trailing, but looks wrong for a rig set up to shoot. There are no telltale artifacts around the endge of the strobe or the sharks mouth. The brightness and colour depth is consistent across the picture as is the light direction. Also if you look at the top jaw of the shark you can see some slight distortion and wrinkling as it presses against the strobe arm.

In summary, if it is a fake it is a damn good one!

[Helen F H]

Originally Posted by ChristianG

I have had the "bite pressure" of a Moray on my arm and i can assure you that it wasn't pleasant, quite spoilt my liveaboard trip, it did.

Where else has this been seen? TV anywhere? Newspapers anywhere? No?

It's Photoshop bollocks and before anyone tells me that a Tiger can't bite through a strobe when it can bite through a leg, please pull my other one.

Actually, i think i remember seeing something about the pressure of a sharks bite not being much which is why you can get away with a chainmail suit for shark diving. Their destructive power comes from the fact they shake their heads and the teeth rip through whatever they have bitten, rather than chew through it as their jaw isnt built for chewing. Hence the chain mail stops the ripping action of the teeth.

Or i might be dreaming.

[David P]

Originally Posted by Helen F H

Or i might be dreaming.

Kinda nightmare more like, shurely?

[David A]

The same thing has happened on both trips I've done with Jimmy Abernethy (not to me). On neither occasion was the rig damaged, just mouthed a bit then spat out.
Apparently the only time any significant damage occured was when someone refused to let go of their camera. A tug of war ensued, a very brief tug of war. Result: Tiger 1 - diver 0, v. expensive camera rig f***ed.

[Bardo]

Originally Posted by David A

The same thing has happened on both trips I've done with Jimmy Abernethy (not to me). On neither occasion was the rig damaged, just mouthed a bit then spat out.
Apparently the only time any significant damage occured was when someone refused to let go of their camera. A tug of war ensued, a very brief tug of war. Result: Tiger 1 - diver 0, v. expensive camera rig f***ed.

Hehe. An important lesson for us all there - don't argue with a tiger shark!

[ChristianG]

Originally Posted by Lou

Well, I see n reason to believe it has been 'Shopped - quite the opposite.

Sharks tend to be either annoyed or intrigued/attracted by electrical impulses....like those generated by digital cameras and especially by strobes, so for a tiger to grab at a strobe for an investigation is by no means odd.

Secondly a shark can mouth gently when investigating, the usual problem is that even a gentle mouth by sharp sharky teeth can damage soft skin, but it wouldn't crush a strobe casing.

Finally, if someone did Photoshop that pic, they went to way more effort to do so than the usual fakes. The angle of the camera and strobe arms is just right for a rig that has been yanked out of someones hands is trailing, but looks wrong for a rig set up to shoot. There are no telltale artifacts around the endge of the strobe or the sharks mouth. The brightness and colour depth is consistent across the picture as is the light direction. Also if you look at the top jaw of the shark you can see some slight distortion and wrinkling as it presses against the strobe arm.

In summary, if it is a fake it is a damn good one!

That's why the text below the photo includes the following?

"I am feeling uncomfortable and go through my oxygen quickly."

[aquaholic]

Originally Posted by ChristianG

That's why the text below the photo includes the following? "I am feeling uncomfortable and go through my oxygen quickly."

Christian, you old cranky cynic

I know it take a pro to spot a fake, but I think in this case you are mistaken.
Bahama sharks love strobes I had mine mouthed by a baby lemon shark on Bimini and it left some teeth marks to prove the point.

As Lou says - sharks react to electric pulses and strobes have plenty of that - busssss - flash - bussss...

Anyway.. nice shot.

Anke