Tony Maher is a Southern California based artist, educator and athlete. His work generally revolves around the presence of history both in and attached to not only the photographic image, but also to the location of the image’s inception. His work varies from large-scale images of dioramas, to documenting the grueling sport of obstacle course racing, to crawling around abandoned mines in the wilderness, as well as several alternative processes.

His current body of work, “We Are Hardkour” continues his photographic investigation into the world of Obstacle Course Racing. (OCR). In a previous body of work, “Mud, Blood, and Mental Grit” Maher took a personal journey into the sport of OCR. This time the images focus mainly on the individuals on the professional race team of Hardkour Performance. A collection of athletes that range from professional elites to everyday individuals. Utilizing several alternative process printing techniques, Maher uses practice and process to emphasis the amount of work and dedication an individual must endure to compete. It is here that the two aspects, both athleticism and photographic art, collide.

Currently, Maher is the Photography Department Chair and Professor of Photography at Cypress College in Cypress, California USA. His work is included in museum collections, private collections, and can even be glimpsed rolling down the street on several skateboard decks throughout Southern California.