Phil Lemley is an underwater photographer based in Seaside, CA. After years of teaching marine science at non-profit organizations, Phil shifted his career path to renewable energy in 2018. He now shares his love of “sweet sweet mamma ocean” through his photographs. By highlighting the beauty of some of Monterey Bay’s lesser known marine species, he hopes others can gain a greater appreciation for our bay and beyond. 

Phil Lemley utilizes underwater photography to shed light on otherworldly scenes hidden just below the surface of the Monterey Bay. By exposing some of this regions rarely visited residents, Phil gives us a chance to witness the unexpectedly mesmerizing skin of a slug, glorious sunbeams illuminating a school of fish – reminding us that there is infinite beauty in our local waters. This exhibition seeks to offer those of us who rarely, if ever, venture into its depths, an opportunity to establish a connection with this majestic ecosystem. 

The collection of images presented as part of this exhibition were created while SCUBA diving and freediving in the waters of Monterey Bay, many of them within a stone’s throw of Monterey’s most popular beaches and tourist attractions

Find more of Phil’s work over at: phillemleyphotography.com or follow him on Instagram @ocean_phil