On the sandy seafloor of Darwin Island, an aggregation of Panamic cushion stars (Pentaceraster cumingi) feeds on algae. At a depth of 100 feet, ambient light renders them a muted gray-blue—but with a burst of strobe light, their vibrant colors and rhythmic patterns come to life in a fleeting natural composition.

Keith Ellenbogen is a celebrated underwater photographer working with conservation-based organizations to showcase the visual complexity of underwater environments from inshore coastal waters to the wild open sea. Through his photography Keith seeks to evoke a sense of discovery of fantastical creatures to captivate our imagination and create intimate, personal connections that inspire positive environmental change. 

Keith is a Senior Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers, Associate Professor of Photography at SUNY/Fashion Institute of Technology, and Artist in Residence with MIT Sea Grant at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He is also a Fellow of The Explorers Club and an Affiliate of the New England Aquarium’s Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life. His work has been recognized with a TED Residency, a U.S. Fulbright Fellowship, and the Ernest F. Hollings Ocean Awareness Award.