Monterey Bay, California -- This Pacific black dragonfish (Idiacanthus antrostomus) was part of a project documenting deep-sea animals found in Monterey Bay. Jason Bradley partnered with the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute and Moss Landing Marine Labs to gain special access to both live and collected deep-sea organisms, to reveal what lives in these distant alien habitats.

Monterey is home to one of the worlds largest submarine canyonsl its proximity to shore is unique, allowing scientists easier access to deep marine habitats than in other places in the world. Today, only about 5 percent of oceans worldwide have been mapped and explored —truly the last frontier, and a mystery. We are only beginning to see what lives in its depths.

How he got the shot: With a standard fish tank from a nearby pet store, one Alien Bee studio strobe, a black velvet backdrop, a Nikon D700 with a 105mm f2.8 macro lens, and settings at !SO 200, f8, 1/125th of a second.

Go Now: This pacific dragonfish can only be found in the deep sea, far beyond the reach of recreational diving. Learn more about such denizens of the deep at Monterey Bay Aquarium’s Mission to the Deep exhibit; the aquarium is at 886 Cannery Row in Monterey and is open every day except Christmas, montereybayaquarium.org.