As part of Discovery’s annual ‘Shark Week’ – which runs from 23-29 July – a photographer has shared terrifying images of the moment he got up close and personal with Great Whites.
Professional photographer, Euan Rannachan is no stranger to swimming with predators, often taking snaps just inches away from their teeth to get the perfect shot.
The shark fan has 104,000 followers on Instagram (@euanart), leaving people mesmerised by his snaps.
And Euan is keen to share his passion.
“Being close to them is like nothing else in the world,” the 37-year-old, from California, US, told NeedToKnow.co.uk.
“They are dinosaurs.
“If I could swim with them every day I would, it’s what I feel I was put on Earth to do.”
One of the photographer’s recent images shows a huge Great White diving for its meal, baring its gnashers as it heads straight for him.
Captured on Guadalupe Island in Mexico, now closed for conservation efforts, the area attracts some of the largest Great Whites in the world due to the large seal colonies.
Growing up to 21ft long and over 4,500lbs, the carnivorous dinosaur is the world’s largest predatory fish, according to National Geographic.
In one shot, the shark, captured from below, can be seen breaching the water with its mouth opened wide, ready to chomp down on its prey.
Euan said: “I like that my images give me a platform to then try and tell people how I see the animals.
“People sometimes try and say that showing a shark ‘being a shark’, aka [also known as] eating things or even opening their mouths, somehow perpetuates the stereotypes that get pushed on us from TV and movies.
“But my response to that is, I sat in front of this fish as it did those things, sometimes just an inch or two away and I’m completely fine and always have been.”
Posting one of his shots on Instagram, Euan has received over 7,200 likes and thousands of comments.
It shows a shark hunting for dinner with its eyes rolling back in its head as blood covers the animal’s nose.
One person commented: “WOW what a beautiful photo…it’s been so cool to watch your journey unfold!”
Another viewer added: “And people want to be in the water with that because…?” [sic]
“I.. That is the most freaky thing i have ever seen,” wrote someone else. [sic]
One person said: “This is absolutely lit!” [sic]
Rahul added: “Shark monster.”
ENDS
