Ashley has a M.S. degree in Marine Science from the University of Miami and has been scuba diving for 15 years. While conducting her thesis research in Dry Tortugas National Park, Ashley used her first Ikelite underwater housing to discover her love for capturing the underwater world through photographs as a way of telling the area’s story.
Ashley is currently pursuing her M.F.A. in Science & Natural History Filmmaking at Montana State University. Her interest in film is rooted in the fact that films can serve as an application for environmental issues and have the ability to create measurable changes in our world.
"My cinematography and photography style employs similar principles utilized by the Sensory Ethnography Lab, which allow the viewer to feel as if they are really there within the scene. Through this approach of creating an immersive experience and my unique underwater skill set, I strive to depict the ecology and marine life of underwater areas, as well as tell stories that highlight the intricate relationships different cultures have with marine resources."
- Ashley Siana
Ashley’s greater objective is to create films that advocate for natural protected areas and a healthier relationship between society and our natural ecosystems, one that finds compassion and understanding through connectivity.
Awards + Achievements
- Graduate Student Winner – Fish & Wildlife Film Festival 2019
- Featured in Big Fork Film Festival 2019
- Featured in Big Sky Film Festival 2019
