Video by bertiegregory / Wait for it! This is a huge basking shark (they’re all big, but this female was a real biggie). Wildlife producer Chadden Hunter once described a shot he wanted me to get: the Millennium Falcon Star Wars shot, where you get under a subject with your back to it, and then get it entering the frame over the top of you. (That's a technique used in the Star Wars movies to make spaceships look epic). Having failed to get this shot on several shoots with anacondas and beluga whales, it suddenly came to mind when I was in the water with these sharks. But I was free diving, and getting into position for this shot takes a lot of kicking and a big breath-hold. Once in position, I had to trust that I’d lined up right, and then just wait with my back to the shark. Being a plankton eater, it’s not going to bite off my head, but it’s still a chunky animal. After a few days of trying, I finally managed to get this shark lined up correctly. Fortunately, she was a huge individua...