You've heard it called the "deep blue sea," but when photographer Lisa Michele Burns captures images of the ocean from a helicopter, the angle and changing currents contribute to an explosion of colors—including shades of green, taupe and even yellow.

"I've always lived by the sea and have witnessed waves, weather and tides change how the landscape looks from day to day," Burns told weather.com. "It's a constantly changing canvas to work with. Aerial photos go one step further in showcasing the patterns created by the varied weather conditions and for me, represented a great perspective for capturing the images I imagined."

The photographer typically snaps underwater photos and focuses on travel photography, but she relishes the chance to photograph from a helicopter with the doors off. She said that the most interesting thing she's learned from taking aerial photos is how just 24 hours can dramatically change how the sea looks, depending on the tides and currents shifting sands on the ocean floor.

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"The world looks so different from above," she said. "When you're flying in a plane, looking out at the clouds is incredible. When you're a little closer in a helicopter, the colors and patterns are so rich and vibrant, making the photographs unique and exciting to take."

The photos in the slideshow above were taken off the coast of the Witsunday Islands in Queensland, Australia. Hardy Reef, a section of the Great Barrier Reef, laces the coastline, and in one image, sea creatures can be seen swimming below.

For more information, visit Burns' website, The Wandering Lens.

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