Description
LOCATION: Curacao, Dutch Antilles
STORY BEHIND THE SHOT: Comin’ in for a puckered-lips huge kiss, this is a Scrawled Cowfish ((Acanthostracion polygonius), and yes, he used a little tongue. But the real story is a even more strange. Whereas almost all of my successful shots are pre-visualized, researched, and planned, this was one of those times where a situation presented itself, and right place – right time. As I was casually cruising the reef, in the distance, I saw two male cowfish fighting, spinning around each other with surprising speed, and biting each other on the backside, and swimming higher and higher up into the water column, up away from the reef. I wanted that fighting photo so bad, and I swam right towards it, knowing that it might only last a few seconds. But before I could get close enough, it was over. The winner held motionless, perhaps guarding his territory, watching the other one swim away in retreat. But the loser, who we’re seeing here, defeated, swam away in a panic, looking for shelter. And I think the loser was looking for anything to hide behind. So when he saw the large object a few feet in front of him, he rushed right for me! I had one chance, one shot, as he rushed straight for me, and this photo is from ~2 inches from the lens. He then passed right by, and tucked in behind my BCD scuba vest by my tank. I couldn’t turn my neck that far to see him, but I knew he was there, so I slowly spun around, trying to get a few more shots, but I think he needed a minute to recover from the fight, and clung right to my back, making it impossible to take a 2nd photo.
A few moments later, he rapidly swam straight down back to the reef where I almost instantaneously lost track of him. Life is tough on the reef, and I’ve always wondered if he was stepping on a stronger male’s territory, or if he was, for a period of time, the dominant male in the area and I had just witnessed him being ousted. I suppose I’ll never know, but it’s the only time I’ve ever been kissed by a cowfish, so he’ll always hold a place in my heart!
I love seeing a few Fish Faces prints hung together as a trio. My favorite has always been Cowfish Kiss on on side, Dentistry in the middle, and Queen Triggerfish Attack! on the other side. The blue-red-blue looks great, and they all go so well together.
TO PURCHASE A COWFISH KISS PRINT ON ALUMINUM: It is available in standard vertical sizes here up to 60″ tall, but for a custom size or crop, please contact our design team.