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Editor’s Note: Montse’s spectacular kissing turtle shot won first place in our April contest, netting her an Ikelite Coolpix package worth $400!

By Montse Grillo

On the coast of Tenerife in the Canary Islands, we have quite the selection of affectionate green turtles (Chelonia mydas). I find myself devoting much time to these curious creatures. 

I love watching their unique behaviors underwater and documenting these moments in pictures, but I never thought I would witness a turtle kiss.

The Idea

Instead of a more traditional shot of a turtle posed against a blue water background, I wanted to frame the subjects against a stark black background. So I got into the water very early in the morning, just as the sun was beginning to rise. 

When I take a picture I always try to transmit a feeling to the viewer, and let the picture tell story—even for just a moment. That requires much time and dedication to each picture, and a great passion for the underwater world.

The Shot 

This picture is the result of all this. It needed many hours of patience to get this perfect instant. Waiting as the sun slowly to come up, I witnessed countless behaviors of the turtles as they, swam, fed and interacting.

In most cases there is just one chance for the perfect picture, and you have to be there, prepared with the finger on the trigger, everything correctly adjusted, waiting for the correct moment. 

Sometimes, everything just clicks into place at the perfect moment—and in this instance, that moment was sealed with a kiss. 

Remeber to enter our May Monthly Contest--the deadline is May 31 at midnight PST. The theme is "Black and White" and the winner will take home an i-Divesite focus light (a $200 value).