Every name has a story and it’s no different with Fish Out of Water Photography. I have always been a water person. My mom, being an avid swimmer, started all six of her kids swimming at around six months old. From there, it evolved to swim team and eventually various ocean sports. I first started scuba and free diving in my early teens, which led to surfing, followed by windsurfing and eventually kitesurfing. While I did have a few other interests, the ocean took priority. My senior year in high school I saved up some money and bought a film camera and took a photography class at the local junior college. I even set up a dark room with some used equipment that I purchased and had a surprisingly good time developing some very mediocre prints. Eventually, the siren call of the ocean pulled me away and I sold my darkroom equipment, although I kept my camera, mainly for surf trips South of the border. Decades later, after a kitesurfing mishap kept me out of the water for an extended period, I purchased a digital camera. While I was recuperating, to keep myself occupied, I started to study and practice photography. I began to take a few short road trips, which led to longer trips. My ocean minded friends began to worry about me when they’d call me about an impending swell and I’d tell them that I was heading to Death Valley for a photo trip instead. Soon, the vast, stark beauty of the deserts had captured my heart, just as the ocean had so many years earlier. However, you will notice, in many of my photographs, water is still a prominent feature, whether it’s the mountains, coast or desert. I hope that you have as much enjoyment viewing these photos as I’ve had taking them.

Robert Mahrer

Fish Out of Water Photography