Artist Statement
As a long-time resident of Laguna Beach and a dedicated Sawdust Festival Exhibitor for over a decade, my artistic mission is to unveil the hidden wonders within coastal tide pools and underwater environments, capturing rarely seen moments as they naturally unfold. My work seeks to transcend traditional photo-realism, offering images that transform into abstract visions, blurring the lines between reality and imagination while remaining rooted in authenticity.
Eschewing extensive digital manipulation, my photographs remain true to what my eye discovers and my camera captures. It is the astonishing sea life—shapes, colors, and forms—that speaks through my work, not an altered narrative. My approach has always been to delve into these tide pools and reveal their organic magnificence without alteration. By meticulously selecting the right camera angles, I allow the inhabitants to convey their untouched existence, exploring the interplay of space, reflection, and light, all dictated by the tide, currents, and the sun’s path.
However, there are times when entering the water to capture these underwater scenes is not possible. In such moments, I employ my unique techniques to explore and capture the above-water environment. This includes not just landscapes but also the dynamic movement of water, the dramatic shifts in weather over the ocean, intricate sand tracks, and the diverse array of objects and animals inhabiting the shoreline. These elements form an integral part of my narrative, complementing my underwater photography and enhancing the overarching tapestry of my artistic vision.
Raised on Lido Isle in Newport Beach and calling Laguna Beach home for four decades, my connection to the ocean is profound, nurtured by my experiences as an open water swimmer, a 100-ton Yacht Master, and global sailor.
The challenge of ocean conservation is not just a cause for me—it’s a personal imperative central to sustaining our universe. Through my art, I lend a voice to these marine inhabitants, serving as an envoy for the preservation of their natural cosmos.
Discovering my passion for underwater photography has granted me the privilege to showcase the preciousness of life beneath the sea. Yet, it is equally in the above-water explorations, where the dance of reflections and light mirrors the fluidity of the ocean, that life’s treasures await revelation. My unique technique lies in this patient exploration and the authentic contemplations that emerge, affirming the value of each living entity in our shared world.
Artist Bio
Education
MPA/Marine Studies – California State University, Long Beach
BA/Literature and Recreation– Whittier College
University of Copenhagen
University of CA Irvine – K-12 Teaching Credential
Newport Harbor High School
Newport Elementary
100 T USCG Master Mariners License
PADI Certification
Employment
Ober Reef Photography…Laguna Beach, since 2009
Underwater photographer specializing in shallow water intertidal macro images.
Laguna College of Art & Design
Mahalo Sailing Adventures
Balboa Island Ferry
Orange Coast College
City of Laguna Beach
Federal Grant Writer for Educational Institutions
Exhibitions/Installations
ED/GE Environmental Awareness and Stewardship. Laguna Beach Cultural Art Center 2025.
UCI Health: Wen Family Center for Advanced Care,
UCI Health: Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center
Sawdust Art Festival and Winter Fantasy since 2013
Laguna Beach Crafts Guild
Orange County Center of Contemporary Art (OCCCA) “Give Us Your Best Shot”
John Wayne Airport Art Exhibit
Long Beach Aquarium 4 year exhibition
City of Laguna Beach, Fine Arts Juried Shows
City of Laguna Beach, Art That’s Small at City Hall Art Shows
GalleryQ at the SuziQ Art Shows
City of Laguna Beach website
The Ritz-Carlton, Laguna Niguel
Dana Point Whale Festival
Visit California website
Balboa Island Art Walk
Crystal Cove Holiday Bizarre and summer shows
Mermaid Designs Gallery
Studio Arts Gallery
The Heathers
Back Bay Veterinary Hospital Advanced Dental Concepts i2iOptometry Offices
Oceana Sea Changes featured artist, Annual Fundraiser
Laguna Nursery
Publications
Laguna Beach and the Greenbelt, Celebrating a Treasured Historic American Landscape, 2025. The Committee for Preservation of the Laguna Legacy. New revised and expanded hardcover coffee table book. Laguna Wilderness Press. ISBN; 978-0-9840007-8-4
Shout Out SoCal, Meet Patsee Ober Underwater Photographer
Marin Magazine published story about Laguna Beach Marine Protected Areas
Cover, Coast Magazine
Laguna Beach Magazine, several articles
OC Register, several articles
LA Times
Laguna Independent, several articles
Stu News, several articles
Outdoor California for CA Fish and Game
Ober Reef Photography Blogs
Accomplishments
Curator, Laguna Beach Community Clinic
Four years on the Board of Directors, Sawdust Art Festival
Laguna Beach My Hero Award 2024, 2017
Laguna Bluebelt Coalition, Director
Laguna Bluebelt Annual Photography Contest, winner and judge.
CA Coastal Commission’s 15th Annual California Ocean and Coastal Photography Contest, Honorable Mention
Jeff Vasquez Laguna Beach Marine Protected Area video for Laguna Bluebelt Coalition
Oceana non-profit Sea Changes Summer Party collateral
Albertsons Market Display
Blue Heron Portal Studio Art Show, ‘sea, sky, land & woman’
Visit California website images
Laguna Beach Dental Group, non-conventional Gallery Space
Eye to I Optometry office non-conventional Gallery Space
Crystal Cove Alliance “Ocean Treasures” images used as event theme and collateral
Life
Recognized Professional Underwater Photographer.
Lifelong sailor and renowned sailboat racer.
Worldwide Yacht Charter Captain and traveler.
Distance ocean open water swimmer and national competitor .
Four Catalina Channel Swimming Federation relay swims from Catalina to the Mainland.
Numerous kayak escorts for distance swimmers from the Channel Islands, Catalina and to the Mainland.
Alcatraz and Golden Gate Open Water Swims
Waikiki Roughwater Swim
Auntie
Dog Mom