Amy Gaskin

Sunset Surfers

Archival pigment print

"’Sunset Surfers’ shows the beauty in our world. These surfers, in silhouette, could be any of us. Through my art, I strive to capture intimacy and truth. I am first an artist but am also a photojournalist. It is important to document our world in both its beauty and in the people who shape our world.

We are all important to the story. Everyone matters.”

— Amy Gaskin

About the artist

Amy Gaskin

Amy Gaskin is based in Southern California, where her clients span the commercial and documentary fields. The Washington Post, The Guardian, Associated Press, Los Angeles Times, CBS, ABC, LA Weekly, Thoroughbred Racing Commentary, BloodHorse Magazine, and others have published her work. She has photographed a range of subjects and enjoys the long term photo essay format through words and pictures.

She is President Emerita of the Press Photographers Association of Greater Los Angeles (PPAGLA), an 87-year-old organization comprised of over 400 members of the visual news media working in the Greater Los Angeles area.

Especially close to her heart is the story of the Last Holocaust Survivor of Trochenbrod, Poland: Betty Gold as well as her portrait series “Living Rough”. She strives to capture intimacy and truth in her work.

While covering horse racing, she chose a horse and trainer to feature who, at the time, were not well-known. That horse was California Chrome, who has since gone on to make history and has become the richest winner in North American history. She documented his journey to the Triple Crown races including the Preakness and Belmont Stakes. The gallery of her images rose to second position on Google, behind Sports Illustrated’s.

Her images are in the permanent collection and display at the National Museum of Racing and Hall of Fame. She is an alumna of Santa Monica College’s esteemed photography program where she learned Commercial Photography and lighting and served on the college’s Advisory Board.

Gaskin earned her Masters Degree at USC (MBA), where she was awarded the W. Hazel Prediger Endowed Fellowship first year, and the Captain Winifred Q. Collins United States Navy Endowed Fellowship, Marshall Scholar second year - full tuition merit awards. She earned her BA from Northwestern University.