Buoyed by a string of golden pearls, a young giant kelp (Macrocystis pyrifera) grows up in the green mist of spring brine. Sunshine breaches the canopy of its towering elders above, bathing it in a soft glow as it dances in the surge. As a foundation species, giant kelp builds the underwater forest and supports a colorful array of biodiversity. Eventually this one will grow to join the others on the sunlit surface, forging the next generation of Monterey Bay's kelp forests. Monterey, CA, US

Kate Vylet is a conservation photographer and videographer based in Monterey Bay, California. She specializes in underwater photography and documenting the kelp forest ecosystem in her backyard.

Holding a B.S. in Ecology & Evolutionary Biology as well as AAUS Scientific Diver and NAUI Divemaster certifications, Kate is also trained as a marine scientist and conducted kelp forest monitoring and climate change research for over a decade. As both a photographer and scientist, she recognized the power of images to communicate research and inspire conservation, and shifted her focus to conservation photography to share the stories of the underwater world.

Kate captures the colorful biodiversity of the kelp forest through a scientific lens, with a focus on bringing light to overlooked life and reframing public perception of maligned species. She also documents the impacts of climate change, the challenges the kelp forest faces, and the responding conservation and research efforts in hopes of spurring action to protect our blue planet.