James Emery

12/10/2025

A tale of three whales. 🐋 It’s easy to get lost in the tender bond between a humpback mother and her calf, but there’s another key player in this underwater story. That large shadow following closely behind is the male "es**rt."

He isn't the father of this little one. He's a hopeful suitor, playing the long game. By acting as a dedicated bodyguard, he protects the mother and her vulnerable calf from predators and—more importantly—from other aggressive males. He's investing his time and energy, hoping to earn the right to be her next mate when the time comes. It's a powerful and complex drama of strategy and strength unfolding in the quiet of the deep blue.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 16-35mm

10/10/2025

There are some moments that simply take your breath away, and this was one of them. For as long as I can remember, I've dreamed of being in the water with humpback whales. Thanks to my incredible partner in adventure, that dream came true!

Our very first day out with and we were blessed with the most incredible encounter: a curious mother and her calf swimming right up to say hello. My heart is full! 💙

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 16-35mm

25/09/2025

I have a few prints alongside some other local talented photographers at the new Breakwater Collective Gallery. You can also view the prints and purchase in the link below

James Emery’s “Anchovies” captures a hypnotic spiral of fish in black and white, highlighting movement and density beneath the ocean’s surface.

21/09/2025

Melibe 3 different lenses
1. Canon 8-15mm Fisheye
2. Sony 28-60mm with Nauticam WACP-C
3. Sony 90mm with Nauticam MFO-3

14/09/2025

So many Melibe Trees around right now.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 28-60mm Nauticam WACP-C
💡

14/09/2025

Squid Party!
Finally got around to editing my stills from the awesome squid run we just had last month. This dive I took the Nauticam EMWL and 160 objective out to get right into the action and try to create a more unique look. It was pretty tough to use and compose a shot with the chaos of squid that just swamps you. But I ended up getting these 8 frames that I was happy with, well enough so to share on here. I'm hoping it happens again next year.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 90mm with EMWL - 160 objective
💡

07/09/2025

Melibe Melibe Melibe and more Melibe

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎canon8-15mm
💡

27/08/2025

Monterey Bay lit up with one of its most spectacular natural events — the squid run at Monastery Beach. Market squid gathered to spawn, covering the sand with egg capsules that began around 50 feet and stretched all the way down into the deep submarine canyon.

This short film captures a glimpse of that rare phenomenon, where the ocean floor transforms into a living nursery and the water teems with life.

The squid run doesn’t happen every season, which makes witnessing and filming it all the more special.

20/08/2025

Copper rockfish.

Is it weird that I get more excited by green water than blue these days? Past-me would be very confused. Green is harder to shoot, messier, moodier… and honestly way more satisfying.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎canon8-15mm
💡

19/08/2025

One of my favourite things to play with in macro is backlighting. It’s a bit of a pain to set up, but when it works it completely changes the photo.

For this shot I backlit the kelp the opalescent nudibranch is sitting on and it brought out all that crazy texture you’d never see with front light. Then I used a snoot just to fill in the nudibranch so you still get the proper colour and shape.
If I’d backlit the nudibranch as well it would’ve just been a silhouette — so the combo of backlight + snooted fill is kind of my go-to in situations like this.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 90mm
💡Back light Front fill

16/08/2025

Kelp brings me peace

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎canon8-15mm
💡

08/08/2025

The one fish that definitely deserves a role on The Muppets. Meet the sarcastic fringehead.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 90mm Nauticam MFO-3
💡