From Wild Fish to Glass Art: Photographing the Work of Martin Gerdin

A Fly Fishing Artist Who Honors the Fish

If you spend much time around fly fishing and have an appreciation for art, then you’ve heard the name Martin Gerdin. His hand-blown glass fish are more than just decorative pieces, they’re immaculate tributes. To the fish. To the places they live. To the hours spent chasing them in silence with and without victory. When I had the opportunity to photograph Martin for a recent magazine story, I knew right away this wasn’t just another artist profile. It was a chance to document someone who truly understands what makes fly fishing special.

Photographing the Process Behind the Glass

Martin’s Gerdin’s studio is located in Crawford, a small town in a remote section of southwest Colorado, which tells you a bit about him already. He doesn’t need the fancy street facing storefront, because for him, it’s only about the work. And that’s obvious seeing him in action. He cares. Sure, creating stunning glass blown fish is how he earns a living, but it’s also his passion. Glass blowing is a very delicate art, especially when dealing with a pieces the size of Gerdin’s fish. There are so many steps along the way that can cause each one to be ruined. And when that happens all is lost. Back to the beginning. As a photographer intent on documenting a process that cannot be faked, the only option is to be a fly on the wall and not get in the way. Martin and his team are constantly moving, back and forth from the work bench to the furnace, over and over. For this shoot I wanted to use strobes to light the scene in a way that wouldn’t draw attention to the light itself. Rather as more of a subtle enhancement. So the hard part was finding those places within the studio that the strobes and light stands wouldn’t impede his flow. Which was difficult at times, but he graciously told me when they needed to be moved and everything worked out just fine in the end. To be honest, there were times when I just wanted to sit back and watch. Looking at Gerdin’s work on his website or Instagram is impressive, but to see a final piece come to life before your eyes, is something else altogether.

**If you think creating glass trout for a living is all glamour, think again. It’s well over a hundred degrees in Martin’s studio when the furnace is running.

Where My Work Intersects with His

Martin Gerdin doesn’t create custom glass trout for fly fishing collectors by accident. It started out of his rabid obsession with the sport itself. The assignment to photograph Martin at work also didn’t happen by accident. As a photographer, it’s very important to me that the people and stories I work on, are ones I truly care about and have an interest in. So I pitched the idea to a magazine because I was a fan of his work and am also violently obsessed with fly fishing, which has led to a somewhat unhealthy amount of time on the river with both a fly rod and a camera. Like Martin, it’s my happy place.

See the Full Collection

Want to see more?
You can view my full collection of fly fishing photography prints [here]. Each image is available for purchase, and select pieces are also available for editorial or commercial licensing. If you’re a collector, or simply someone who loves the water, I think you’ll find something that speaks to you.