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Photography and water have freed me.

They let me say the inexpressible. I found my center. I found a way back to my body. I found the space to see myself truly.

My love of photography guided me to photograph underwater, and it is where I found my refuge. The water takes the weight. Underwater it comes quickly and there is nothing left to hold up. On land it takes longer and it still comes.

I photograph the moment a person stops arranging themselves. My photography gives me space to understand complex emotions. I needed to validate my own experience, to witness all that I am.

That is the whole practice. I wait, and then I make the photograph.

The photographs are half of it. The rest is written.

We Are Not Made Of Wood

From the series We Are Not Made Of Wood From the series We Are Not Made Of Wood

The form is neither rising nor falling. It is awkwardly in between.

An attempt to photograph the strength it takes to be helpless and out of control.

The title is Van Gogh's, from a letter he wrote in 1889. The series was awarded Contemporary Talent 2012 by the François Schneider Foundation.

View the series
Rahshia Sawyer - Somatic Underwater Photographer

HI, I'M RAHSHIA

& My Studio is Underwater.

And I knew it the first time I dove in over a decade ago. 

I discovered the power of underwater photography, honing my skills to create a refuge for complex emotions.

My photos have been exhibited and collected all over the world, unraveling the depths of desires and feelings beneath the surface.

These days the photographs come with writing. I send both out every few weeks.

Read My Journey & Get to Know Me

CLIENT TESTIMONIALS

The photos are truly breathtaking!

"The photos are truly breathtaking! The photos are breathtaking! The natural beauty has me see myself in a totally different light. Thank you for helping me on my journey on capturing more of who I am." SAM, 2023

I see the powerful woman I feel inside

"An underwater water photo sounded fun. I wanted to try something different. I was going through a separation and some other intense things. I found myself sharing all of it with Rahshia. I felt she really understood. The photo she created made me cry. I saw the powerful woman I feel inside me - I can now see her. I had no idea how much a single photo changed me. " JAMIE, 2022

I felt seen & acknowledged for who I am

"Thank you! I don’t know how you did it - I felt seen and acknowledged for who I am. I have never ever before in my life seen pictures of me that are so true to who I am. Photographs I look at and can actually say, “I love her, and I like her. Yeah, she’s got some flaws, and she’s got some secrets. But you know what? She’s alright. She has a light in her to share with the world.” JOANNA, 2023

You are on the list

You are on the list.

The next one goes out when there is something ready. If you told me what you are making, I will read it.

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Photographs, poems, and the work of finishing creative conversations.

It arrives every few weeks. Some of it is finished and some of it is still in the middle.

If you are making something, I would like to know what it is.

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You are on the list

You are on the list.

The next one goes out when there is something ready. If you told me what you are making, I will read it.

View Submission
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