About

About Me

My name is Kyla McLay, and I am an 18-year-old award-winning photographer from Palos Verdes.

My passion is ocean photography, both above and below water. I hope to use my photography in the future to spread awareness for marine conservation issues.

I have won multiple awards with my work, including winning first place in the United Nations seventh annual World Oceans Day Photography Contest youth category.

I photograph with my Canon EOS 5D Mark IV and wide-angle and zoom lenses. My underwater photography is shot using an Aquatech housing and occasionally an AxisGo housing for my iPhone.

I am currently attending the University of Hawaii at Manoa, majoring in Marine Biology and minoring in Studio Art with a concentration in photography. Here, I plan to continue my passion for ocean photography, taking advantage of Hawaii's crystal clear, warm water and abundance of marine life.

Contact me with any questions regarding my work, projects, collaborations, shoots, equipment, etc.

Awards & Accomplishments

Freedom4U Photography Contest , Best of Show- February 2021

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Nature), First Place- February 2021

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Find Your Voice), First Place- February 2021

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Teen Life), Second Place- February 2021

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Sports), Honorable Mention- February 2021

Scholastic Art Regional Silver Key Award- January 2021

Drexel Photography High School Contest- December 2020

Ocean Photographer of the year (Youth), Third Place- November 2020

Palos Verdes Library's Annual Community Art Show, Finalist-November 2020

United Nations World Oceans Day Photography Contest (Youth), First Place- June 2020

Sean Heffernan Photography Contest, Honorable Mention- May 2020

RMSP Photography Contest (People), Honorable Mention- March 2020

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Nature), First Place- February 2020

Freedom4U Photography Contest (People), Second Place- February 2020

Freedom4U Photography Contest (Sports), fourth Place- February 2020

Collaborations

Features

@ocean_photography_awards
@unworldoceansday
@blancpain1735
@peaceboatus
@4ocean
@axisgo
@cbyc_jr_sailing
@pvhs_sailing
@pvhs_photo
@palosverdesmagazine
@capeclasp
@underwater_lifee
@photography_crowd
@youthphotoalliance
@covid19_photos_for_teens
@aroundcatalina
@divephotoguide
@ghandaclothing
@pvbrandambassadors
@respectthewildlife
@fish_the_west
@hawaiiadventurediving

CBYC Lighthouse Magazine - July 2020
Palos Verdes Magazine- August 2020
Palos Verdes High School Student Directory- 2020-2021
Palos Verdes High School Triton Yearbook- 2020-2021

Random Things About Me

I've always wanted to live on a sailboat

I'm an ice cream addict

My dream job is to work with Sealegacy

I'm a sailing instructor and sail competitively

I'm half kiwi (New Zealand)

I really really want to learn to kitesurf

Dolphins & sharks are my favorites :)