Night stalker - Angel M. Fitor - Wildlife Photographer of the Year2007

2007: Animal Portraits - Highly Commended

Angel M. Fitor Enlarge image Night stalker

Angel M. Fitor (Spain)

Night stalker

'It was a full moon when I slipped into the water off San Juan, a popular tourist beach in Alicante, Spain. I'd seen three smoothhound sharks the night before and was back to find them. Eight metres down, I did. I got close enough to one to use lighting, giving the portrait a dramatic frame of black water below and moonlit surface above.' The smoothhound shark is common enough in the Mediterranean. It only comes to shallow waters to eat crustaceans such as crabs. It is quite smooth when stroked from head to toe, more than some other species. But like all sharks, it is covered in small tooth-like projections called denticles, which cuts down turbulence and helps them swim more efficiently. Rubbed the other way they feel rough.

Nikon D200 + AF Fisheye-Nikkor 10.5mm lens; 1/250 sec at f22; ISO 200; twin strobes.