Photographer and journalist (and resident OFM contributor) Matt Maenpaa has launched a Kickstarter campaign for The Desert Dreams of Water, a high-quality publication that will feature a magazine, calendars, fine art prints, and a photo book that will document Maenpaa’s travels along desert highways and areas surrounding the Colorado River, from the Rocky Mountains to the Pacific Coast.
According to his Kickstarter description, Maenpaa’s goal is to tell the stories of people who live along the river, capturing the surreal and distinctive landscapes of the American Southwest. The project will also highlight the work of scientists, activists, and conservationists striving to secure a more sustainable and equitable future for both the land and its communities.
The campaign’s official launch date will be announced soon, with the print edition projected for delivery in June 2026. Supporters will have the opportunity to choose from various reward tiers which may include exclusive prints, collectible calendars, and early access to the photo book, among other things.
Maenpaa is known for his work in conceptual, portrait, event performance, wedding, and landscape photography through his creative brand, Foolish Endeavors Photography. His style blends fine art with documentary storytelling, offering both striking visuals and compelling narratives. He also dabbles in social justice writing and photography with OFM and music and culture photography with OFM and New Noise.
With The Desert Dreams of Water, Maenpaa has envisioned his project as a combination of ideas from various artists.
“’David Lynch, Hunter S. Thompson, Ansel Adams and Jack Kerouac take a road trip through the American Southwest to argue about water and people’” is how I’ve thought of this project in my head for a half a year,” says Maenpaa on his Kickstarter.
To keep up with Maenpaa’s journey, you can also follow him on Facebook and his Substack.
Image courtesy of Matt Maenppa
