BEHIND THE SCENES WITH: ROB YASKOVIC

Stalking the SEAM: It sounds like photography is your passion and your profession, can you give us some background on how that evolved. Where does fishing fit in? How did you make the leap from wedding and portrait photography to shooting fishing?

Rob Yaskovic: I worked at a camera shop when I was 19 going to community college part time. The camera shop had a great owner who allowed us a free roll of processing a week. Back then I shot quite a few rolls of 36 exposures every week. I had set up a darkroom in the basement of the store and Garry, the owner would let me stay late and work in the darkroom. I went to work as a staff photographer for the New Jersey Herald to replace a lady on maternity leave and ended up staying for 5 years.

I never wanted to be a wedding photographer. Every wedding photographer I saw or met was angry, sweating profusely, wearing a tux that was too small and had TONS of equipment. But that changed when I learned I could do it my way. Relaxed, having fun, one camera a few lenses and brides and grooms that were just as laid back.

There was no leap to fishing photography. I love making photos. I always have a camera with me. At first it was my iPhone 3Gs then I started to receive some recognition for what I was doing with that cell phone. The Nikon came along right behind it. With almost anything I am into, my camera finds its way. Early on Cameron Mortenson from The Fiberglass Manifesto, Dave Imbach from Lo Fi Fly, and my buddy Eric Hornung from Anti Hero Electric Tattoo helped with tons of support. Then came a little write up on Le Mouching, then a feature in This is Fly, then I get an email from Copi Vojta at The Fly Fish Journal and its just exploded.