By Madison Butkus
Hometown Weekly Reporter
It was all things sharks and animals at the Sherborn Library this past Tuesday, July 30th as they welcomed professional photographer and videographer Bob Michelson. This event, titled “Sharks to Parks,” included a photography-based presentation of the animals, both on land and underwater, that live in and around the parks of the Massachusetts North Shore.
Before this presentation of photos, attendees were able to touch and take photos with a real (preserved) animal- Bruce, a 7 ½ foot Gold Hammerhead Shark! This shark was caught by Michelson himself off of the coast of Miami, Florida back in August of 1978. Michelson had gone sharking that day, caught Bruce, and brought him to a taxidermy facility to preserve the shark.
Upon taking questions about Bruce, one little boy asked why Michelson decided to keep Bruce instead of releasing him back into the ocean. Michelson explained that he kept and preserved Bruce for educational purposes, like in the case of his presentation that day. He explained that it is easier to talk about a shark when everyone can see it in person. Since catching Bruce, he has not kept another shark.
When talking about Bruce and other Hammerhead Sharks, he detailed their features like the shape of their heads, their pectoral fins, their gills, as well as some other interesting facts. He additionally talked about Great White Sharks and gave a warning to all of those in attendance. Michelson suggested that if anyone is on a beach, especially in the Cape Cod area, and there are seals around, they should stick to only going knee deep in the water. This was said not to scare the little ones, but to inform them and keep them safe while enjoying their time at the beach.
As Michelson’s presentation went on, he showed pictures of animals that are not only seen within Massachusetts, but also some that are seen right here in Sherborn. These included Smallmouth Bass, Largemouth Bass, Sunfish, Bluegill, Catfish, Geese, Swans and more.
In terms of Michelson’s career, he was also the senior New England environmental news correspondent for Underwater USA and a regular science contributor to the Patriot Ledger. He offers workshops and seminars on a variety of subjects to schools, organizations, clubs, and private organizations across the northeast. For more information about him and his work, please visit his website at www.pbmphoto.photoshelter.com.
