Mark Atkinson
Internationally acclaimed multi-faceted photographer Mark Atkinson savors his time on Virginia’s Eastern Shore at a second home and pays tribute to characters he encounters near and far by immortalizing them in print. Several celebrities appear in his portfolio, but in the end all of his subjects - watermen, artisans, models, performers - look like rock stars.
Mark has the rare ability to transform a seemingly ordinary scene into heroic images that tell a story and contain both poignance and grandeur. See Black Elvis, Maurice Spector, and Gordon Campbell. He travels extensively, often volunteering for Operation Smile, and always returns with priceless shots seemingly pulled out of thin air (although he maintains that half the battle is "just showing up”. Right.)
Given his photos’ propensity for narrative, it is natural that Mark has more recently in his career become a talented videographer. On the Eastern Shore, he is known for submitting the annual “crowd favorite” composition at Experimental Film Virginia in June, and as he travels the world he shoots both documentary film as well as still photography.
A partner at Otto Design and Marketing, Mark supports creative efforts by shooting photo and video for clients who appreciate his unique perspective. In 2018, Mark was the subject of Proof, a well-deserved 30 year retrospective of his work at the Hermitage Museum in Norfolk. Get a glimpse behind the scenes here: https://vimeo.com/299439953
Also a fan of beauty in decay and repose, Mark shot this still life in the Rosenwald School in Cape Charles. A renovation has been proposed for this former all African-American school, and it has a full exhibit at the Cape Charles Museum throughout the summer of 2019.
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