Life. It is many things. For me, it has been and continues to be a journey. But a journey often involves a crossroads. My photography journey began not in North Carolina, my place of birth, but in the gentle hills of rural Germany. I was in Germany because of my military career with the U.S. Air Force. I retired from the Air Force in 2005 and took a job at Ramstein Air Force base doing IT support. My family and I had been abroad in Europe since 1994, serving in various assignments. Germany was our first job after the military and where the photography bug bit me.
The German countryside is made for walking, though the weather can be dreary, overcast, and rainy even in the summer. But it really doesn’t matter. Being married to a Belgian means you walk regardless of the weather, resistance is futile. So off we went and I didn’t complain. Once we got into our daily walks, I asked my wife should I bring a camera. “You should” she answered, “and capture some of this beauty.” This is how my ...
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“I would rather be in the mountains thinking about God than be in Church thinking about the mountains.” John Muir
Born in the great state of North Carolina, Mark joined the Air Force after high school. His first assignment was Sunnyvale in northern California. Just over a year later he was assigned to Brussels, Belgium where he met his wife Lutgart and over the next two decades, they served in various countries in Europe. They have three wonderful children who are now adults pursuing their careers and education.
After 20 years of military service, Mark retired and accepted a civilian job with the Air Force at Ramstein Air Base in Germany. Almost immediately he was impressed by the beauty of the German countryside and started bringing a camera on long walks with his wife. His interest in photography grew rapidly and he was soon reading everything he could about this fascinating subject.
As Mark continued to hone his photography skills he was noted in several publications. Over the years he received multiple international awards for his images. He also taught many photography workshops while in Germany.
In July 2014, after 22 years of living abroad, Mark and Lutgart moved to Ogden, Utah where Mark continues to support the mission at Hill Air Force base. They are both excited to reside in America again. Utah and the southwest are recognized as having some of the most scenic landscapes on earth, offering endless possibilities and giving them new inspiration. Their art from Utah reflects visits to many landmark sites and they continue to explore the southwest with great passion.
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