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While not as common an occurence as in the past, the market squid run in California is an amazing spectacle, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Our latest Photogarpher of the Week, Patrick Webster, is an underwater photographer and marine science communicator based in Monterey Bay, California, and much of his gorgeous cold-water portfolio here shows off the stunning life that can be found in this world-famous marine sanctuary (with a sneaky Chilean crab in the mix).

Originally from the French Alps and raised on the outskirts of Stockholm, Sweden, Patrick fell in love with the ocean after a visit to the Monterey Bay Aquarium when he was just five years old. Awestruck by the rescued sea otters diving and blowing bubbles just behind the glass, he knew that whatever “this” was, “that” was what he was going to do—and so began his quest to become some form of marine mammal himself! Take even a brief glance through his Instagram page, and we think you'd be hard pressed to disagree that he has succeeded!

Patrick has spent the last decade combining subtidal storytelling and his word asso-sea-ocean (association) syndrome to entertain and educate about the wonders of our water world—with the kelp cathedral and its tasteful nudibranchs as his muse. Patrick’s passion for sharing the sea has now grown into an award-winning science communication career at Monterey Bay Aquarium and a large social media presence. His work has been featured by National Geographic, The Nature Conservancy, The New York Times, BBC, and more. He is also part of National Geographic’s Lindblad Expeditions Team. Patrick hopes that his work can joyfully bring his fellow human closer to the wonders of the “Inner Space of Planet Ocean, to help inspire conservation of our pale blue dot on its storied journey around the sunfish.” Speaking of sunfish, Patrick also created Dive Mola, a small apparel and sticker company—and those stickers are traveling the world!
 

Blue rockfish swim amongst a beautiful stand of bull kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Patagonian southern red king crab, Albatross Island, Punta Arenas, Chile
 

Giant kelp sunset split, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

The face of a beautiful clown dorid nudibranch, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A lone moon jelly cavorting with a smack of sea nettles, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

The filter feeding tentacles of a sandcastle worm, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Chain salp with a cormorant photobomber, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A miniscule snailfish resting on kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A cathedral of kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Not a subject commonly seen in cold water, a larval ribbonfish! Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Giant kelp’s beautiful curves, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

A California icon, the Spanish shawl, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Ringed topsnail, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

Dendronotus albus crawling across the kelp, Monterey Bay, California, USA
 

For more of Patrick’s beautiful work, please visit his Instagram page, watch his TED Talk, and check out Dive Mola.