Photographing leopard sharks off La Jolla Shores was fun but challenging experience. The shallow water, ocean surge, and unpredictable lighting conditions pushed me to adapt on the fly. Looking back, there were a few things I could have done differently.
Here are five key lessons I took away from the experience…
1. Use a Faster Shutter Speed to Freeze Movement. I shot the leopard sharks using 1/320s shutter speed, which wasn’t quite fast enough to fully freeze their movement in the water. These sharks are constantly gliding, and between the motion of the surge and their natural speed, a faster shutter speed would have resulted in sharper, crisper images.
Lesson: A shutter speed of at least 1/500s–1/1000s is ideal for photographing moving sharks in natural light.
2. Avoid Auto ISO—Even in Changing Light. I’m usually against using Auto ISO, but in this case, I used it due to the rapidly changing light conditions. Some areas were only three to four feet deep, which meant a lot of light bouncing off the sandy bottom. This caused exposure shifts that I thought Auto ISO would help compensate for, but instead, it led to inconsistent noise levels across my shots.
Lesson: Manually Control ISO whenever possible, even in dynamic lighting. Instead of Auto ISO, set a base ISO and adjust in real-time as needed.
3. Work with the Surge, Not Against It. The constant water movement at La Jolla made it difficult to frame shots without the ocean pushing me around. At first, I tried to resist the surge, which only led to more camera shake and missed shots. I eventually learned to go with the flow—literally. By drifting with the water, I was able to anticipate movement and time my shots more effectively.
Lesson: Let the surge guide you into position rather than fighting it. Time your shots during the brief moments when the water steadies.
4. Use a Lower Angle for More Impactful Compositions. Most first-time shark photographers make the mistake of shooting downward, which flattens the subject and makes the image less dynamic. I made sure to position my camera lower in the water and shoot upward whenever possible. This approach separated the sharks from the busy background, improved contrast, and created a more engaging composition.
Lesson: Get low and shoot upward for a more dramatic and visually appealing shot.
5. Patience Beats Pursuit Every Time. Leopard sharks are curious but easily spooked. The more I moved toward them, the more they swam away. When I finally stayed still and let them come to me, they got comfortable and allowed for much closer shots. This not only resulted in better images but also let me observe their natural behavior without disturbing them.
Lesson: Let the wildlife come to you. Staying still increases your chances of getting close, natural shots without chasing the subject away.
Photographing leopard sharks at La Jolla Shores was a learning experience.
It reinforced the importance of controlling shutter speed, managing ISO manually, adapting to ocean movement, and being patient with wildlife. Every dive teaches a new lesson, and next time, I’ll be better prepared to capture these beautiful sharks with even sharper, more dynamic images.
