For Muller—a lifelong adventurer who grew up in California and Saudi Arabia, where he learned the joys of
diving, travel, and surfing, and whose early snowboarding photography set him on his career path—his art is about
overcoming all preconceived notions of fear in an effort to educate and open minds to shark conservation and
protection. While global statistics tell us that there are only five fatal shark attacks on humans per year, the scope of
the animals’ widespread mistreatment and slaughter is largely unknown to the general public.
“Every year an estimated 100 million sharks are killed by humans across the globe for their meat, fins, liver, or gill
rakers, generating an estimated $630 million in sales,” writes Dr. Alison Kock, a South African marine biologist and
research manager at Shark Spotters. That organization—as well as Muller’s mentor Morne Hardenberg’s group
Shark Explorers, Cousteau Jr.’s EarthEcho International, Muller’s own White Mike campaign, and others—are
making it their mission to expand our shark conservation awareness and action. Yet, sadly, with the growing threats
of climate change, overfishing, and pollution in addition to the shark finning trade, it’s proving to be an upstream
swim for all of us.
Still, Muller’s superhuman efforts to create superhero-worthy images of sharks are casting the creatures in a whole
new light. In addition to his book, he is at work on a full-length documentary about sharks, while also gathering
information and resources on a new wild animal subject to begin shooting in the coming months. For Muller, his
work is more than a hobby or even a profession: it’s his duty.
“By going out into nature over the span of ten years, I have a pretty fresh perspective on how bad of a space we are
really getting ourselves into, which was the motivation for the book I made,” he says. “I said to myself, ‘I don’t think
my daughters are going to be able to see some of the things I’m seeing. So I’m going to do what I can about it.’ I
have a gift for photography—I’ve sold Nike shoes, and the films I’ve shot movie posters for have generated billions
of dollars—so now maybe I can sell these animals in a way that people haven’t seen before and educate them on
what’s happening.”
Here, FLOOD speaks with White Mike himself about facing fears, diving deep, and getting his shot.