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25 Stunning Shark Photos

Photographer Pat Ford gets up close and personal with tigers, hammerheads, bulls and other bad boys of the shark world.
  • Updated: June 26, 2015
25 Stunning Shark Photos

Swimming with sharks — that’s one of renowned fishing photographer Pat Ford’s favorite pasttimes, and few places offer more opportunity than the Bahamas, including famed Tiger Beach off Grand Bahamas West End. In this exclusive gallery, Ford shares 25 of his favorite shark shots.

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Bill bull sharks on patrol

BIG BULLS ON PATROL

Big bulls patrol off Bimini. Pat Ford
Big tiger shark with remoras and jack fish

TIGER AND FRIENDS

A big cobia mirrors the movements of a far larger tiger. Remoras and jacks complete the retinue. Pat Ford
Diver and shark

ELI AND EMMA

Eli Martinez of Shark Diver magazine with Emma, a regular at Tiger Beach. Pat Fod
SCUBA divers swimming with big tiger sharks

CAMERA HORS D’OEUVRE

I have a problem photographing big tigers when they roll back their eyes while opening their mouth, as here. Pat Ford
SCUBA diver swimming with big tiger shark

TUG OF WAR

Emma confuses me with Eli, and I find myself hitting her in the nose with my camera. Pat Ford
Tiger shark underwater

CRUISIN’

I happened to glance up at one point, and this is what i saw an arm’s length above me. Pat Ford
Hammerhead shark underwater

PORTRAIT TIME

A big hammerhead poses perfectly for its portrait. Pat Ford
SCUBA diver and hammerhead shark underwater

HAMMER SAYS HELLO

Big sharks follow no script; you have to be ready for sudden movements. Pat Ford
Mako shark underwater

BLUE-WATER BOSS

I’ve also filmed sharks far offshore, like this mako, which may be my favorite shark species. Pat Ford
Mako shark at ocean surface

MAW OF THE MAKO

Off San Diego with noted fly-fishing shark expert, Capt. Conway Bowman. Pat Ford
Underwater tiger sharks

TWIN TIGERS

A brace of huge tigers heads toward me. Pat Fod
Underwater tiger sharks Bahamas

AT THE APEX

The same two tigers patrol the shallow water. It’s not hard to recognize them as apex predators in these waters. Pat Ford
Sharks surfacing Bahamas

COME ON IN — THE WATER’S GREAT

This was the scene off the transom just before we put on our gear and went over the side. Pat Ford
Caribbean reef shark underwater Bahamas

STUDY IN BRONZE

The bronze back of a Caribbean reef shark at Tiger Beach makes a bold statement in the world of blues. Pat Ford
Nurse sharks Tiger Beach Bahamas

FRENZY

Even nurse sharks can exhibit frenzied feeding activity. Pat Ford
Sharks Bimini Bahams

TIGERS TIMES THREE

Hammerheads prowl just over the sand off Bimini, on high alert for anything that might catch their interest. Pat Ford
Tiger shark underwater

GOOD MORNING, SUNSHINE

A huge tiger on patrol as rays of sunlight form a striking backdrop. Pat Ford
Lemon shark underwater Bahamas

HUNGRY LEMON

Even lemons are big in the Bahamas. Pat Ford
Mako shark underwater Bahamas fishing

WHADDA YOU LOOKIN’ AT?

A mako released boatside. Pat Ford
Caribbean reef sharks underwater Bahams

SURPRISINGLY ELEGANT

This pair of Caribbean reef sharks is elegant, cruising slowly past me in the saturated blue water. Pat Ford
Bahamas bull shark pilot fish

LEAD THE WAY

Pilot fish dart here and there in front of a behemoth Bahamas bull. Pat Ford
Flyfishing mak shark caught

MAKO CITY

Waters of the Southern California Bight off San Diego have produced some of the best fly fishing for makos of moderate size to be found anywhere. Pat Ford
Lemon sharks ocean surface

CARIBBEAN AQUARIUM

Resembling a scene from a huge aquarium, two lemon sharks circle me in the astoundingly clear Bahama waters. Pat Ford
Hammerhead shark underwater

HAMMER IN BLUE

I encounter hammerheads in the open oceans as well as over shallow reefs. Pat Ford
Emma tiger shark

AN EMMA FAREWELL

The gallery’s final shot shows mighty Emma on her eternal hunt for something to eat. Pat Ford
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