Colorful illustrations of ocean invertebrates from Ernst Haeckel.

Illustration of colorful nudibranchs from Ernst Haeckel.

Art Forms in Nature

Images of marine species from Ernst Haeckel, famous science illustrator.

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Featured Content

When Art Meets Science: The Hyberbolic Crochet Coral Reef

A piece of the Hyperbolic Crochet Coral Reef exhibit.

October 2010

America’s ever-changing relationship with seafood

A dish of halibut

February 2018

Black and White photo of the Western Flyer on the ocean.

Video

Western Flyer: A New Chapter

Turning Ocean Trash to Treasure

The colorful parrotfish sculpture is made entirely of ocean plastic trash.

June 2016

“This shark was cruising low along the reef known as Alcyone. Her left eye was glancing up toward other hammerheads when I took this shot from below.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Alan Studley.Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; Tokin

Slideshow

Ocean Views from Nature's Best Photos

Are You An Educator?

At Smithsonian Ocean, we have lesson plans, activities, and resources to help you engage your students in the wonders of our oceans.

see all lesson plans see lesson plans with artistic activities

Books, Film & The Arts Articles

Behind the Photo: The Primal Ocean

Red Pigfish and Blue Mao-Mao school at the edge of a cavern in New Zealand's Poor Knights Islands. Read photographer Brian Skerry's story behind this photo.

October 2012

“This shark was cruising low along the reef known as Alcyone. Her left eye was glancing up toward other hammerheads when I took this shot from below.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Alan Studley.Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; Tokin

Slideshow

Ocean Views from Nature's Best Photos

Shooting the Waves: Tips from a Surf Photographer

A wave curls near the shore.

June 2015

the teeth of an anglerfish

Video

The Making of "The Bright Beneath"

Portraits of Planet Ocean – Behind The Photographs

Brian Skerry sits on a 20 foot high underwater tripod to photograph the Aquarius Habitat off Florida.

September 2013

Your Ocean Poems

A photo of a beach with a heart inscribed in the sand.

May 2011

The Perfect Underwater Photo

A hermit crab looks out from its coral dwelling in the waters of Japan's Ogasawara Islands.

December 2011

Comics at Sea: An Antarctic Logbook

Karen Romano Young's 19th AntarcticLog comic

February 2018

When Art Meets Science: Exhibition Inspired by Bioluminescence

A photo of a 2011 installation by artist Shih Chieh Huang, featuring his illuminated creations made from everyday objects.

August 2011

Break On Through

"Break On Through" was taken by Wendy Wolf at California's Pfeiffer Beach. This photo was a winning selection in the Portraits of Planet Ocean Flickr contest.

June 2015

Arrow crabs are small, spider-like crabs that live on coral reefs.(CLICK IMAGE TO OPEN SLIDESHOW WITH MORE WINNING PHOTOS FROM THE CONTEST)

Slideshow

Selections from the Brian Skerry Flickr Contest WInners

Citizens of the Sea

Cover of the Book Citizens of the Sea

July 2010