CAPE TOWN — Wildlife photographer Chris Fallows observed a decline in the great white shark population in False Bay, South Africa, over the past decade. Approximately 10 years ago, the great white shark population began to decrease in the area. Scientists and conservationists disagree on the cause of the great white shark disappearance in False Bay.

A decade ago, Fallows observed between 250 and 300 different great white sharks annually at Seal Island. "To see a 1,000-kilogram great white shark come flying out the water, well, that's something very few people get to see, and certainly I never got tired of it," Fallows said. Great white sharks engage in a behavior called breaching, where they jump out of the water to catch prey.

Fallows captured his photograph "Air Jaws" in 2001 near Seal Island, depicting a great white shark breaching with its jaws open. He used a seal-shaped decoy towed by a boat to attract sharks for the photograph. "We'd been towing a [seal-shaped] decoy for around about an hour already, not having much success. But just something said to me, just keep your concentration and keep focused," Fallows said. The photographic event lasted approximately seven seconds, and Fallows used film photography to capture the image.

"It was a photograph that changed my life, and it gave me a fantastic start with my photography. And it… epitomizes the power and, I guess, predatory prowess of this incredible animal," Fallows said. "It really showed to me just how fragile our planet is." He added, "It affected me very deeply, but it was also a catalyst to doing what I do today, to try and showcase what I've been so privileged to see."

Conservation efforts are supported by Chris and Monique Fallows, his wife, who use profits from their photo sales to fund these initiatives. In 2017, the couple purchased 61 acres in Cape Infanta, South Africa, for habitat restoration. They are also in the process of acquiring a 26,500-acre property in Namibia for similar restoration efforts. "All life depends on another form of life," Fallows said.