Mark Laita's Utterly Breathtaking Photographs of Sea Creatures

You might recall photographer Mark Laita and his superb series Created Equal with its beautiful and stark "parallel portraits" of subcultures. Now, Laita takes his masterful eye for visual poetry to another fascinating, even more mysterious and alluring world: Sea captures the creatures of the deep with equal parts cutting-edge photographic technique and imaginative whimsy to reveal the extraordinary wonderland that lives beneath the surface of the world's water. From iridescent jellyfish to prepossessing but deadly puffer fish to playful sea horses, the 104 images in the collection reveal the astounding grace, colors, and personalities of these marine characters with unprecedented artistry and passion.

Otherworldly and utterly breathtaking, Sea sparks newfound awe for the amazing planet we share with other creatures, creatures we've been known to tarnish in gruesome ways, and rekindled respect for the precious miracle of their existence.

Images: Abrams Books, Mark Laita; Via New Scientist.

This post also appears on Brain Pickings.

Jellyfish

Golden Butterly

Green Chromis

Humpback Anglerfish

Red Feather Starfish

Leopard Whiptail

Whale Shark

Blue Spot Stingray

Miniatus Grouper

North Pacific Giant Octopus