California giant kelp, Macrocystis pyrifera, grows toward the surface off the coast of San Barbara Island, California's Channel Islands National Park, USA, Eastern Pacific Ocean.

White shark, Carcharodon carcharias, Guadalupe Island, Baja California Norte, Mexico, Pacific Ocean

A green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, swims over the rocky reef deep within the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve in La Jolla, as sunbeams shine down in background. San Diego, California, USA, Eastern Pacific Ocean

Underwater lighting is utilized to show the stunning colors of a purple-striped jellyfish. These drifting invertebrates are carried across the ocean by prevailing currents. Image was taken at Islas Coronados, an uninhabited island chain off Mexico's Baja California Norte in the Pacific Ocean.

Strawberry anemones attached to the structure of the Ruby E wreck off the coast of San Diego, California. These creatures attached themselves to the hard structure in colonies and feed off nutrients in the water column utilizing structures called mesenterial filaments, which similarly to hands to grab particles and draw them in towards the body.

A green sea turtle, Chelonia mydas, feeds on red algae in the shallows of the Matlahuayl State Marine Reserve in La Jolla, as sunbeams shine down in background. San Diego, California, USA, Eastern Pacific Ocean

A Juvenile California sea lion, Zalophus californianus comes in for a closer look at its reflection in the camera’s dome port, Islas Coronados, Baja California Norte, Mexico, Pacific Ocean

about the gallery

“Our Underwater World” showcases a collection of digital underwater photography printed on a mix of aluminum and matted photo paper. Through these dynamic underwater seascapes and thoughtful animal portraits, viewers are reminded of the fragile environments and animals who call our oceans home. Often, we forget that the fate of humanity is intertwined with the health and wellbeing of the underwater world and that human impact extends much further than our terrestrial home. Through education and conservation, we can each make a difference in the lives of these creatures and the ecosystems they inhabit. All photo prints will be up for silent auction throughout the exhibition with all proceeds donated to the NC Aquarium Society to promote ongoing science and conservation of our oceans. From delicate drifters to ocean apex predators, every creature has value to our blue planet and it is up to each of us to secure their future. Learn more about the gallery and its works by following the QR code below.

meet the artist

Frankie is a marine photojournalist, award-winning PADI Staff Instructor, and founder of Oceans Wild Imaging. He currently utilizes his skillset as the Assistant Dive Safety Officer of the North Carolina Aquarium on Roanoke Island.

He holds a B.S. in Biology from East Carolina University and his career portfolio includes underwater photographer, licensed 100-ton vessel captain, magazine columnist, cofounder of an eco-tourism company, citizen science diver, whale shark tagging, and lionfish mitigation, to name a few.

Frankie has produced articles and images for companies including Getty Images, Dive-in Magazine, and The London Times. His current professional focus is contributing to offshore scientific diving operations off the North Carolina coast, notably elasmobranch tracking and conservation.