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Fangirling Out

So the first day I got to meet Chris Fallows, my favorite shark photographer - and my inspiration for working on my own photography (esp water and nature) - I literally squealed like a girl at a boy band concert (it's how I image my friend Peeper when she sees NKTOB). He came over an gave me hug and as amazing as that was then we went out on the boat for our first dive Chris and his wife went with us. His wife, Monique, is even sweeter and such a caring person and was very compassionate in helping me deal with the embarrassment of throwing up due to seasickness. It made me feel so much better when she said she suffered seasickness for about two years when she started being out on the boat.  They did not go out with our second dive but we they did tell use they would try to see us when we went to Mossel Bay.
     



     
Once we were in Mossel Bay we learned that Chris and Monique would be there for a week and we were given a chance to go out on the boat with them  two of the mornings to do an early morning predation trip. While out we got to see how they work on getting their amazing pictures but also how much patience it takes to get the pictures they do get. The first morning we had no takers on the seal decoy but it was still amazing to watch. The next morning when we went out we got to see a full breach - and even though I got part of it on video on my camera - I accidentally deleted the full video but my gif that I made stayed. On the full breach there was the spray of water that is spewiged out when great whites are taking their prey which put me in full awe. The second breach was only a partial breach - the shark started to come up and then realized it was not a real seal so it didn't go all the way out of the water. 









That night though our group got to have dinner with Chris and Monique and I got to sit between them. Even though I brought my little composition book that I wrote down a bunch of questions I wanted to ask them I was soooo nerding out that I didn't even ask them but just let the conversation be natural. It was so amazing how calm and just down to earth they both were and how they just kicked back and chatted with us sharing some of their stories personal and professional. It was truly an evening for me to remember.  These  pictures were on the second day in Mossel Bay after we got to see the sharks breaching. 




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