Thresher Shark Killed by a Gillnet

"Tens of millions of sharks are killed each year, often only for their fins. I have wrestled with how to take pictures of dead sharks that resonate with readers. One morning, I jumped into the sea in Mexico and swam along a gillnet, where I found a thresher shark that had recently died in the net. As I composed the frame, the scene struck me as a crucifixion. Finally I had an image that would create empathy for these animals and give voice to the problem." — Brian Skerry  

Find out more about Brian Skerry and his exhibit at Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History, opening September 17, 2013.