Shark Photography with Marine Conservation Photojournalist Shane Gross
Underwater photography is pretty incredible as it gives us a rare look into the mysterious world of life below the surface. From shooting colorful coral reefs to exotic fish and terrifying predators, underwater images can be shocking and beautiful.
Originally published November 20, 2017, by Dane Johnson. Updated October 16, 2026, by PHLEARN Staff: Shane’s answers are now grouped into sections, with pull quotes, larger photos, an About the Artist box and a few common questions answered from the interview; the words are his, with one typo fixed.
In this 2017 interview, marine conservation photojournalist Shane Gross talks about how he finds ideas, the shark photo that took him years, and why he thinks photographers should give back.
Today we have the pleasure of learning more about marine conservation photojournalist and recipient of National Geographic’s 2017 Honorable Mention in the nature category, Shane Gross, whose shark photography is an internet hit.
The Quote That Fires Him Up
What’s the one quote that always fires you up?
“People protect what they love, they love what they understand and they understand what they are taught.” – Jacques-Yves Cousteau
How Shane Gross Finds His Ideas
Do you have any particular habits that are a part of how you begin your creative process?
I look at a lot of photographs. Other art too, but especially photographs. I am careful to not copy what I see, but it often gives me ideas. I’ll then write them down or sketch them out. That is one common way.
The other is being out in nature and simply accepting the gifts she gives. Nature is my inspiration and most of what I do is simply trying to show nature, especially aquatic animals, in an honest way. Nature is the greatest art there is.
Nature is the greatest art there is.
Shane Gross
What do you do when you hit a wall during your creative process?
Get outside. Just being out in the wild and slowing down to really see what is around me from big land or seascapes to tiny details. A lot of nature is camouflaged, so if you’re moving quickly you can easily miss it. Sometimes I’ll close my eyes and try to listen, even underwater there are constantly animals making sounds. It informs me that there is a lot more going on than I can see and just thinking about all the mysteries of the sea is extremely inspiring.
Lemon at Home, His Favorite Shot
What’s your favorite photo you’ve ever captured and why?
Because I know the amount of work, years of work, that went into creating the Lemon At Home shot, and all that process taught me about photography and the ocean environment, it is the most important image I’ve made so far.
If someone attempted to capture you in a single photo, like, the essence of you in a photo, what would be happening in it?
Well, I’d barely be in it! (laughs) That’s tough. It would somehow have to combine the elements of liquidity, freedom, and being a tiny drop in a big ocean.
It would somehow have to combine the elements of liquidity, freedom, and being a tiny drop in a big ocean.
Shane Gross
A Book Every Creative Should Read
What book would you recommend any creative person read?
Ocean Soul by Brian Skerry.
Yes, it’s about ocean photographs which is, sort of, my niche; but, if you look deeper, there is something there everyone can learn from. This pursuit is not easy and takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice. It also taught me to look for the heart and soul of your subject, whatever it may be, and to respect your subject. Lastly, we can, and perhaps should, be using our skills, talents and abilities to try to make the world a better place. In Brian’s case that means using his images to urge the conservation of wild places and species, and I think all photographers are generally lucky people and we ought to give back however and whenever we can.
This pursuit is not easy and takes a lot of hard work and sacrifice.
Shane Gross
You can view more of Shane’s work at his website or keep up with him on Instagram.
Common Questions About Shane Gross
Who is Shane Gross? A marine conservation photojournalist whose shark photography became an internet hit. In 2017 he received an Honorable Mention in the nature category of National Geographic’s contest. He says most of what he does is try to show nature, especially aquatic animals, in an honest way.
What is Shane Gross’s favorite photo? Lemon At Home, a lemon shark pup no more than six months old, hunting at dusk in the mangrove creek she calls home. He calls it the most important image he has made so far, because of the years of work behind it and everything the process taught him about photography and the ocean.
Where does Shane Gross get his ideas? He looks at a lot of photographs and other art, careful not to copy, and writes or sketches the ideas they give him. The rest comes from being out in nature. When he hits a wall, he gets outside and slows down, because a lot of nature is camouflaged and easy to miss. Sometimes he closes his eyes and listens, even underwater.
What book does Shane Gross recommend? Ocean Soul by Brian Skerry. He says it taught him that this work takes hard work and sacrifice, to look for the heart and soul of a subject and respect it, and that photographers can use their skills to make the world a better place, as Skerry does for the conservation of wild places and species.
