Great white shark expert Chris Fallows broke a Shark Week record when he snapped a shot of a great white soaring 15 feet in the air.

The stunning moment, captured at Seal Island South Africa, was released as part of Air Jaws, a series started in 2001.

The record-breaking shot, taken by Chris Fallows, shows a great white shark in the midst of a 15-foot breachCredit: Shark Week

This year’s installment kicked off Shark Week, the annual week of shark-related content on Discovery Channel.

“They say a picture is worth a thousand words. Well, that picture is worth a thousand breaches,” Fallows said.

By tracking breaches on Air Jaws, researchers can compile information of hunting patterns and techniques of sharks, and in turn track shark populations. They use sophisticated technology, including drones, underwater cameras, and decoys.

Researchers on the show use a number of hi-tech methods to capture breaches, which can be used to track shark populationsCredit: Shark Week

The jaw-dropping photo elicited shock and excitement from fans of the show, Yahoo Entertainment reported.

“That last breach!!!” one fan said on Twitter.

“A 15-foot breach? Absolutely breathtaking,” another said.

Air Shark sees 3 teams of researchers counting and tracking breaches. In Sunday’s episode, which marked the 20th anniversary of the series, one expert tried to take an image at night, and another used a drone in their attempt.

Credit: Shark Week

Credit: Chris Fallows/Shark Week

Fallows used a different method – a tow camera.

“This has to be the ultimate air jaws breach,” Fallows said.

“I can’t believe how high it came out, it was just perfect … a photo you dream of.”