5th Place Novice DSLR Ocean Art 2015 Lauric Thiault

This photo was taken during a shark monitor ing project with the French Polynesia Shark Observatory (http://www.requinsdepolynesie.com/) at La Vallée Blanche, Tahiti. I was in charge of taking ID pictures of tiger sharks, which turned out to be a bi t frustrating because no tiger shark showed up this day. At the end of the second unsuccessful dive, I decided to pass the time photographing the smaller re ef sharks that followed us to the safety stop. I held my breath, facing the surface and waiting for a shark to come between the sun and me. Afte r a few attempts, this pregnant black tip shark ( “ ma ’ o mau ri ” in Tahitian) came right into the frame and I had the shot I had in mind.

5th Place, Novice DSLR

Lauric Thiault

"Ma'o mauri"

Lauric won a gift certificate from Bluewater Travel!

The story: This photo was taken during a shark monitoring project with the French Polynesia Shark Observatory (http://www.requinsdepolynesie.com/) at La Vallée Blanche, Tahiti. I was in charge of taking ID pictures of tiger sharks, which turned out to be a bit frustrating because no tiger shark showed up this day. At the end of the second unsuccessful dive, I decided to pass the time photographing the smaller reef sharks that followed us to the safety stop. I held my breath, facing the surface and waiting for a shark to come between the sun and me. After a few attempts, this pregnant black tip shark (“ma’o mauri” in Tahitian) came right into the frame and I had the shot I had in mind.

Location: La Vallée Blanche, Tahiti, French Polynesia

Camera: Nikon D800; Fisheye 10-17 F3.5-4.5 Tokina; F13, 1/160th, ISO 320