Fascinating images of the iconic Jaws movie being filmed in 1974 have been shared for the first time, 44 years after its release.

Images from the Martha’s Vineyard beach show director Steven Spielberg chatting away with extras on the sand, and a technician with his upper body inside the head of one of three mechanical sharks used to portray the beast.

But amateur photographer Billy Reagan and his family did not know it was to become the seventh highest grossing film of all time in the North America when they snaps were taken decades ago during his high school years.

Steven Spielberg is seen sitting in a chair (second left) as he chats with locals on the beach at Martha’s Vineyard in 1974

Popular tourist destination was taken over by trucks and huge wooden structures to help pull of the dramatic motion picture

A black-and-white shot shows what Jaws look like in its entirety as the filmmakers used the island in Dukes County

Images provide a never-before-seen look inside the Dukes County, Massachusetts set that turned Oaks Bluffs harbor into Shark City.

The popular tourist destination is taken over by trucks and huge wooden structures to help pull of the dramatic motion picture.

People are seen submerged in the water or sitting in boats alongside props to emulate shark fins, fins that infamously kept sinking. 

Oaks Bluffs harbor into Shark City as fake fins were seen in the water and notoriously kept accidentally sinking

Some boat shots are from a time when a victim played by Teddy Grossman flips over in his boat and is eaten by the beast

Reagan managed to largely keep the photographs under wraps for at least 20 years before guests at his Attleboro House – which was used as the home of the famous flick’s Chief Brody – spread the word

The boat shots and a snap of the flick’s helmer are from a time when a victim played by Teddy Grossman flips over in his boat and is eaten by the beast.

Reagan captured the moment as his brother Jack Reagan was an extra in the iconic scene where youngsters frolicking on the beach look on in horror as the shark attacks.

Reagan managed to largely keep the photographs under wraps for at least 20 years before John Campopiano and his wife Stephanie were guests at his Attleboro House – which just happened to be used as the home of the famous flick’s Chief Brody. 

Jim Beller compiled the 2011 book Jaws: Memories From Martha's Vineyard book with Matt Taylor (pictured from the book)

Jim Beller compiled the 2011 book Jaws: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard book with Matt Taylor (pictured from the book)

The book that had been out eight years shows more images of a people working on the movie in the mechanical shark's mouth

The book that had been out eight years shows more images of a people working on the movie in the mechanical shark’s mouth

Another shot from the book shows on the three mechanical sharks dipped into the water at Oaks Bluff in 1974

Another shot from the book shows on the three mechanical sharks dipped into the water at Oaks Bluff in 1974

After the film buff and huge Jaws fan stayed at property in the 1990s, Reagan had no qualms about sharing images with an excited Campopiano. Prior to that he had also pulled the prints out from his basement to show family and friends.

But once Campopiano laid eyes on the pictures, knowledge spread among his creative contacts who were shocked to discover they hadn’t come across the images themselves.

The moments caught on camera were so rarely seen that even Jim Beller, a huge Jaws collector who compiled the 2011 book Jaws: Memories From Martha’s Vineyard book with Matt Taylor.

Snaps from that book feature hundreds of photographs that hadn’t been seen before eight years ago. 

While hundreds of images (such as this one) are contained in the book, Reagan's had not been made public

While hundreds of images (such as this one) are contained in the book, Reagan’s had not been made public

ICONIC: Director Steven Spielberg, camera operator Michael Chapman and cinematographer Bill Butler on the set of the Universal Pictures production

ICONIC: Director Steven Spielberg, camera operator Michael Chapman and cinematographer Bill Butler on the set of the Universal Pictures production