A gigantic photograph of a stunning California kelp forest has been reproduced on 26 glass windows of the gift store of the Aquarium of the Pacific in Long Beach, California. The massive photo measures 125 feet wide and 13 feet tall.

In 2012, underwater photographer Jim Hellemn was commissioned by the aquarium to create the installation. During the project, Hellemn took more than 8,000 images throughout California’s Channel Islands over a period of eight weeks, and used more than 1,200 of the photos in creating the final mosaic on glass.

“Many factors made this a difficult project,” Hellemn says. “Visibility, surge and cold water are biggies, not to mention that California giant kelp moves constantly. Fortunately, I was rewarded with a few days at a spectacular site on San Clemente with awesome visibility and conditions.”

» For more on Hellemn’s work, go to blueoceanart.com