http://www.newsweek.com/scientist-explains-reason-controversial-dead-great-white-shark-picture-985670

A photo of a smiling woman lying next to a dead great white shark—which has sparked criticism on social media—was taken for purely scientific reasons, according to the photographer.

Marine biologist Giancarlo Thomae and a fellow scientist were at a beach in Aptos, California, on Sunday helping a team of researchers from the University of California, Santa Cruz, who were examining the washed-up shark and preparing to take the animal to their lab for an autopsy.