So - Would you?

My wife and I were at home watching Shark Week last night, specifically the "Air Jaws" segment. For those who might be unaware, they tow a small platform behind a boat at water level with a fake seal about 15 ft. behind the platform to capture great whites coming out of the water to hit the seal.

Wife looks at me and asks "Would you get on that platform to get that picture?"

Without hesitattion, I responded with an emphatic "Hell yes" followed by a "When was the last time you saw a great white period, much less one going airborne?"

My wife now thinks I have lost my mind.

So, my fellow photographers of all ages, sizes and experience levels, would you be willing to get on the sled to photograph a great white going airborne?

yes =]

Sure, it's safe.

15 ft.? we are going to need a bigger boat.

We were just talking about how we are lucky here in the pacific northwest (US Oregon, Washington) because we have almost no large predators and in a lifetime of being outdoors and on water I haven't seen any animal capable of killing me that wasn't running away as fast as possible.

Flying great whites would probably cause unintentional bladder evacuation, I have lead a sheltered life.

Umm, no. I'll happily chase airborne racecars week after week, but huge flying sharks? Nothankyouverymuch.

Count me in ... how awsom would that be, a once in a life time kinda thing (might be once b/c the shark gets you before you can do it again lol). Now I can say yes only because I know my wife would never let me

Yes . I would take as many precautions as I could, but yes.

Absolutely!

Yes. I ain't afraid-a no shark.

Nope; simply because I have no desire to photograph sharks.

No, but if you do, post your shots here. That'll be good enough for me.

huntersdad wrote in post #14851563
My wife and I were at home watching Shark Week last night, specifically the "Air Jaws" segment. For those who might be unaware, they tow a small platform behind a boat at water level with a fake seal about 15 ft. behind the platform to capture great whites coming out of the water to hit the seal.

Wife looks at me and asks "Would you get on that platform to get that picture?"

Without hesitattion, I responded with an emphatic "Hell yes" followed by a "When was the last time you saw a great white period, much less one going airborne?"

My wife now thinks I have lost my mind.

So, my fellow photographers of all ages, sizes and experience levels, would you be willing to get on the sled to photograph a great white going airborne?

I would make sure that platform was very secure!

I would (before anyone got on the platform) cut the rope and sabotage the whole affair.

I'm very much against F-ing with Great White sharks. Recently a guy got bitten in half (a surfer) in Australia while a little farther out some jerk was chumming the water so that tourists could see the sharks. And the guy chumming (using blood) wanted to blow the whole thing off as a coincidence. Maybe, but that's one hell of a coincidence.

Leave the darn things alone. It's one thing to be out there in a boat where they naturally feed, and perhaps you'll get lucky and shoot one (hopefully with a telephoto from far away so as not to disturb them) as they feed, but don't dump blood or fake seals in the water. That's just ignorant. Just get out there, give them space, and wait patiently. That's why they invented alcohol and ear buds. You sit all day with your buddies, drink some beer, and aim your camera. As long as the captain is sober and you aren't teasing the animals (or throwing trash overboard) no harm/no foul.

But if you like dragging plastic seals through the ocean you might as well drive a Jeep through the Savannah dragging a large, plastic zebra so that you can see Cheetahs or lions chase them. It's pretty much the same thing, and it's not cool.

That's my opinion as someone who has spend countless hours in the ocean from about the age of seven, surfing, diving, swimming, relaxing, etc. I always have a bit of fear about sharks, but that will never stop me from enjoying the water. I just have to accept that I'm a step lower on the food chain out there, but I don't need some jokers reminding the sharks that they are hungry. Plus, it takes a lot of energy to chase down and attack that "seal". So the shark gets a piece of plastic?

What's next, remote-control mouse in a field so you can tease the hawks and get a good photo?

If you want to do that kind of thing, just use the old fishing string and dollar bill trick and watch some guy run down the sidewalk chasing money.

For science? Yeah. Studying how they attack is pretty cool sounding to me, as well as being able to see it first hand? Why not. I would make sure that I'm securely harnessed and safe before doing anything like that though.

Deep sea + Monstrosity that can tear me apart? Two of my biggest fears. As much of a fear junkie I am, I will be safe when I look that thing in the eye.

BTW, I was just watching whatever Shark Week episodes I can on Netflix.

when are we going?