Photographs of Black Tip Breaching Behind FL Surfer Stir Controversy

There is a sequence of photographs taken by Mr. Kem McNair from a Florida beach that is creating quite a bit of buzz these days. Some say the images are real; others that they look fake.

The image of a black-tip shark breaching the water right behind a surfer is so spectacular that some find it fishy.

"It seems that would be a fake picture," says surfer John Del Vecchio, "Because I don't think a shark like that would have enough power to thrust itself out."

But fellow boarders Parker and Sam say they've surfed New Smyrna and seen lots of sharks there. Their take?

"It's real," says Parker.

"Real," agreed Sam, "Seen 'em all the time."

There's understandably skepticism with so many photos of news events, celebrities and politicians being debunked these days as having been digitally doctored.

But the University of Florida has enough faith in McNair's predator picture that they've asked him to use it for research.

"It's a very believable photograph," agreed Chris Johnson, a local biologist with the Loggerhead Marinelife Center in Juno Beach.

"Black-tips and Spinner sharks always jump out of the waves," says Johnson, "I see them maybe two or three times a day sometimes."

McNair says there were a dozen people around the day he took this picture who would support his assertion that his shark shot the real deal.

What do you think?

Fin or fake?