Kayaker paddles near enormous rare shark

In this video we see a kayaker off the coast of Panama City, Florida caught on video paddling near an enormous basking shark. Basking sharks are the second largest fish in the world, second only to the whale shark and can grow to 33 feet long and weigh up to four tons.

Kayaker/Adventurer Josh Reeves works for a shark tour guide company, so when he saw a rare “basking shark” off the Panama City Coast, “he couldn’t believe it” reports KTLA.com.

Photo of the Day (11.30.10)

India is the seventh largest country by geographical area and with a population of 1.18 billion people, it’s the second most populous nation in the world. With such an immense concentration of people, unique languages, and religious practice, India has a well known reputation for being a little chaotic at times.

I love this photo for the symbolic dichotomy of chaos; masses of people on the streets and a frightening tangle of wire strung up in between crowded buildings. It’s almost as if the wires are delicately holding the buildings together as the crowd bustles, unaware. The photo was captured by Flickr user Trent Strohm in the crowded lanes of Old Delhi.

Have you gotten lost among the crowd in a foreign place? Send us your pictures! Submit to our Flickr group and it may be selected as our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (11.16.10)

This Sunday marked the beginning of the Hajj, the world’s largest annual pilgrimage to Mecca, Saudi Arabia. As the fifth pillar of Islam, the pilgrimage is a religious duty that must be carried out by every able-bodied Muslim that can do so. Saudi officials have reported that a record-breaking 3.4 million people are expected to come from all corners of the globe to perform the Hajj this year.

This astounding photo, titled “Headed to Mecca” was taken by Flickr user Theodore Kaye as a mother prepares to leave Osh, southern Kyrgyzstan for Mecca. I love that Theodore was able to be present for and capture the intimacy of this moment and took advantage of the lighting to make the image even more beautiful. The result of being in the right place at the right time, and knowing how to capture a great photograph.

If you want to see more of the Hajj, Boston.com put up an amazing series of images of this year’s processions. Also worth checking out is VBS.tv’s short documentary of an inside look at the pilgrimage. What’s your personal Mecca? Share it with us by adding photos to our Flickr group and it could be our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (11.2.10)

How often can you claim that you’ve drifted between two continents in one afternoon? Welcome to the Bosphorus; the liquid body that officially separates Europe & Asia. At a maximum width of 3,420m, it’s the world’s narrowest strait used for international navigation and its shores are home to the 5th most populous city in the world.

This photo, titled “Bosphorus Sunset” comes from Flickr user roxie88. I love the raw quality of this image; the off center and out-of-focus ship, the subtle lens flares. It’s natural, captivating, and preserves what I imagine to be a very special sundown.

If you left your professional camera at home & snapped some quick, unpolished snapshots from incredible places, we want to see them! Upload them to our Flickr group and it could be our next Photo of the Day.

Photo of the Day (10.19.10)

If you’ve ever thought that running up a mountain sounds like a good way to spend your weekend and you have some free time in the coming week, pack your bags & get to the State of Sabah on the island of Borneo. This Saturday & Sunday, the 24th annual Mt. Kinabalu Climbathon will be taking place, marking the last event of the 2010 Skyrunner World Series. The Skyrunner series consists of five major races throughout the year, each at a minimum altitude of 2,000 meters.

This photo, titled ‘end of the world’, was shot by Flickr user stefaniembutler on the plateau of Mt. Kinabalu (the highest mountain in Southeast Asia). The climbers dwarfed by the jagged rock formation and mountains far below make a great image; enticing enough to make me want to climb it… but run it? No thanks. Skyrunners, I salute you.

Have you stumbled upon a festival or competition that deserves some recognition? Do you have a hobby that’s cooler than Skyrunning? Share it with us! Submit your photos to Gadling’s Flickr Pool & it could be our next Photo of the Day!