MagicMark

At the age of 9 my parents got me a book on motion picture photography. I loved it and read that book several times (it was a big book). And I went around pretending I was the director of photography of motion pictures. I even drew on large school erasers and made them my movie camera. One day I found an old brownie camera (8mm) in my parents closet and started pretending I was shooting my movies with that.

By the time I was 12 (still studying photography without a camera) I got a Kodak Ekta Camer 1 (Michael Landon did a comercial for it as well as James Garner) for my birthday.
I took a lot of real pictures with that camera.

By the time I was 15 I got a real movie camera (Bell & Howell Super 8mm with sound capability. I shot many homemade movies with that.

But there was always one draw back to motion picture photography. You have to have others to help you make your movies. This proved to be difficult because finding friends with the exact same time schedule (so they could be in the movies) was difficult.

By the time I was 16, my parents got me a 35mm camera (Canon AE-1 Program) for Christmas and I fell in love with still photography (especially special effects) like it was no one else's business. And I have helped a photography friend shot weddings while still in my teens.

I got my first summer job with a local TV station in my home town and I stayed working in Television for 8 years.

Now I love photography (as a hobby). Got my first digital camera in 2001 and in 2009 I got my first DSLR.

While photography is a hobby for me, I do take on photography clients once in a while (I make a little money at it). But I don't consider myself a pro.

I love portraiture the most and table-top illustration the second most. But special effects will always be my secret first love.

CJartist Loc: Ormond Beach

Mark, thank you for taking the time to tell us about yourself. You are very talented.

sarge69 Loc: Ft Myers, FL

Sounds great. Thanks for the insight.

Sarge69

Jay Pat Loc: Round Rock, Texas, USA

Enjoyed reading the bio!
Pat

MagicMark

Thanks, CJartist! I appreciate your compliment. :thumbup: 8-)

MagicMark

Thank you, Sarge69! Love your moving avatar! :thumbup: :thumbup:

MagicMark

Thanks, Jay Pat! I enjoyed writing it. :thumbup: 8-)

Db7423 Loc: Pittsburgh, PA

Interesting Mark. Thanks. ;)

ace-mt Loc: Montana

Nice story :thumbup:

Elliern Loc: Myrtle Beach, SC

Thank you for sharing. It is nice to learn more about those on this forum and how they got started in photography. You have had a lot of experience and with that comes knowledge. I also like hearing what others find joyful in life.

MagicMark

Thanks, David! :thumbup:

MagicMark

Thank you, Ace! :thumbup:

MagicMark

Thank you, Elliern! I enjoyed telling my life story in photography. :thumbup:

creativ simon Loc: Coulsdon, South London

Good to read your history Mark

If your passion is special effects how about visiting Swede's 'Special effects' thread

You would get a warm welcome and your work would hang well there

Erv Loc: Medina Ohio

That is a great bio, Mark. Good to know where you came from and how you got here. And glad you did. Love your work. Why did you give up the TV gig?
Erv