About Robert Maass

Who Am I?

 

I am happy my work has brought you here. Since there are many

professionals who can skillfully communicate visually, the real

question is, who am I, what do I bring to the table, and how can I

help you?

 

If I think about what excites me, and always has , it is being a story teller.

Initially that was communicated exclusively through still photography, but

over the years that has evolved to include books, film and multimedia. The

story can be seen and understood in one image – the ‘ you only get one shot’

school of journalism, or in a more elaborate form.

 

My career began when I was in college and spent my junior year in Denmark.

I was researching a project about the very successful restoration of  the

city of Elsinore, and in addition to researching and interviewing, I became

increasingly taken by what I was discovering through photography. The more

time I spent in the darkroom, the more I became convinced that this was what

really turned me on. Though I loved studying history and policy, being out in

the world as a photographer felt like the perfect fit for my nature.

 

Two years later I began a career as a photojournalist, which combined my

love of photography with a keen interest in the events of the day.  I had no

idea how to do that, but I was eager and motivated to learn. After a few

years and a lot of hustle, following all kinds of stories, I secured a spot

as a contract photographer with Newsweek magazine, which I held for ten

years. I also started authoring and illustrating books for children, and

will soon have my twelfth book published in the summer of ’2011.

 

Though my focus has been photojournalism, I have also worked over the years

for companies and organizations telling their stories. Among them are UNICEF,

Care, Barnes & Noble, Citigroup, Societe General, Annie E. Casey Foundation

and many others.

 

In 2003 I made a feature length documentary called Gotham Fish Tales, about

the marvelous and mostly unheralded fishery of New York City. The story is

told through a winning set of intrepid anglers of all stripes, mirroring the

diversity and energy of what one would expect from New Yorkers. The film was

well received by festivals and ran for two years on the Sundance Channel.

 

Since then I have divided my time between photography, multimedia, books

and film. I am still driven by what has always moved me: creating strong

imagery, and seeking out stories that are worth seeing and hearing about. I

will never tire of doing that, as it is my way to embrace the world around

me.