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In August 1999 at work we had a particularly intense online project involving sharks. Sharks took over my day but especially occupied the time of Derek, a friend and colleague, who worked long hours. When I went on a trip to Florida, I came across this shark on an oceanside storefront and photographed it. I brought it in the next week and gave it to Derek, as a reminder of that shark-infested month.
— Kristen
Washington, D.C.
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This picture was taken over 15 years ago during a family vacation at the beach. I can't remember exactly why I decided to make a shark in the sand rather than the typical castle. I can only guess that the image of a shark menacing the shores was in my imagination.
— Reuben
Alexandria, Va.
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While in the Navy, I had to fly to various islands north of Guam. While at the island of Pagan, I slipped into my snorkling gear and cruised the round bay with a narrow opening to the ocean. I was alone and happened to look up to see a white-tipped shark about 200 yards away moving from left to right. As I saw it, I swooshed my arms
forward to stop my momentum. This must have been "picked up" by the shark, as it suddenly turned and headed in my direction. While my heart tried to leap out of my chest, I looked for something — anything with which to protect myself; there was nothing. Just as I began to calculate just how fast I could make it to the shore, the shark, now not sensing my motionless body, again suddenly turned and swam out of the inlet. I quickly swam to shore and quieted my heart.
— Joseph
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Colorado's only "certified shark feeder" title from Unexso, Freeport, Bahamas, was especially triumphant for me, having battled MS for 23 years. Fighting the disease and overcoming the "you poor thing" reaction were augmented by my desire to share the wonders of sharks with school children. The perception was "sharks are mean, ugly and stupid." As one underdog (apparently having MS makes one helpless and hopeless) working to save another, it has been gratifying to conquer my fears as well as those of the children. The child who wrote the remark above ended his note with, "Boy, was I wrong!"
— Jeanne
Colorado Springs, Colo.
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One day while snorkeling for lobsters, just off the beach in Juno Beach, Fla., I saw a large circular hole in a large sandstone formation. Thinking this has got to be full of lobsters, I took a deep breath and dived to the hole. Grabbing hold of both sides of the hole I pulled my head in, only to come face to face with an 8-foot nurse shark! Needless to say there were no lobsters in that hole. Nurse sharks are pretty harmless, but still, one 6 inches from your face is very frightening.
— Mark
Juno Isles, Fla.
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I was 2 years old when Jaws first came out, and of course I was taken to see it numerous times by my parents.
Little did I (and they) know how much the movie would affect my poor, frail, impressionable mind.
We would often go over to my grandparents' house to swim. Of course, living in California, Grandma and Grandpa had a REAL swimming pool, complete with a 12-foot deep end. For years after seeing the first Jaws movie, I was terrified of the deep end of the pool, because I could physically see a shark swimming around the drain. Just slowly swimming in circles, waiting for some nice, fresh kid to jump off the diving board and make a hearty lunch for him. I think that I thought that he swam up through the drain somehow.
Naturally, I eventually grew out of that fear, and spent plenty of time swimming and diving in the deep end of the pool.
But I will admit — I always looked first.
— Dennis
Arlington, Va.
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