Saturday, January 11, 2014

Lee's First Blog Post



The importance of photography in research:
                                                                               
I can think of no better way to start this blog than to use a quote from Masen’s favorite shark expert, Chris Fallows.

“To see the magnificence of a great white shark firsthand is the fastest way to change perceptions and separate fact from fiction. This is the only way people will ever learn to love and not fear sharks.”

Chris is not a biologist or scientist; he is a person who felt compelled to observe sharks and learn their secrets, much like our team. He has proven that the right photograph can say so much more than the words in our scientific papers. A dark gray fin gliding across the top of a near still surface evokes feelings of beauty and mystery, while a photo of a cavernous mouth filled with razor sharp teeth can send a shiver down the hardiest of spines.

We’ve been here in False Bay for a month and already we’ve taken thousands of photos. No matter the angle, the lighting, the water conditions, there is a unifying theme in every picture—power. This is not a mindless monster of the sea. This is a cunning hunter, a cautious explorer, and a superior swimmer.

I have to say, I wasn’t sure about this topic when it first popped into my head because I knew I couldn’t write it without making this admission … I didn’t want to come to False Bay. When Masen first broached the subject with us, he was holding a print out of one of Chris’ photos and the first thought that entered my head was that we could fit in that shark’s mouth. Gopher could fit in that shark’s mouth. For all the great whites we saw at Farallon, I never once had that thought.

After our team meeting, I followed Masen into his office at his request. He wanted to show me a different picture to see if it changed my mind at all. The one he chose showed a great white swimming, mouth closed, head tilted upward toward the surface, and the light refracting perfectly to highlight the contrast between its white underbelly and grey top coloring. It changed my mind because as soon as I saw it, I knew that was something I had to do. I had to see this big, beautiful creature at ease in her home and enjoying her life.

One of the most surprising things I’ve found in our photos of these sharks is that there is a huge amount of personality and intelligence reflected in their eyes. They are watching us. I know that sounds scary and that a lot of people will read that and assume I mean it in a scoping out their next meal way, but that’s not my meaning at all. It’s an acknowledgement that we’re sharing the water. It’s a warning that I’m welcome in their home so long as I don’t cause them harm. It makes me wonder what those big gorgeous eyes interpret when they process our faces. Are they able to distinguish features and differentiate between researchers? Do they see Chris out there and recognize him from past expeditions? Can they tell the difference between those of us who want to help them and those that only see them as a source of food and fear?

This blog can go on for thousands of words and I may say something that clicks with a group or two. But my other option is to post a picture, my favorite from our time here so far. Look closely. Find the beauty and mystery here. And if you see it, find your local conservation groups and do what you can to help us save these animals so that your children and your children’s children can see what you’ve seen in this photo.