About

Mark S. Peterson

Background

My photographic life began as a young child, when my grandmother gifted me a camera prior to a family vacation. By the age of 10, I was processing my own film. By age 12, I had a full darkroom in my parents’ basement. I took my cameras everywhere, especially focusing on landscape and nature images during trips to National Parks and on backpacking adventures. After photographing travels and friends, and beginning my photographic education in my teens, I registered my first photography business with my state at age 19 as a college sophomore.

My photographic career has since spanned a wide gamut. Early days as the sole staff photographer at a small college public relations office (a role that also included managing the college’s black-and-white darkroom). Global travel stock image sales via multiple prominent stock agencies. Years as a fine-art photographer selling photographic artwork on the regional art festival circuit, and execution of both individual and group gallery exhibitions. Roles as principal staff photographer for advertising agencies. Freelancing for both editorial and commercial clients. All of this was highly valuable experience in my growth as a photographer.

Most recently, I’ve come full circle and have once again been focused firmly within fine-art landscape, natural history, and travel photography. My fine-art images hang in public and private photography collections in the US and in Europe, and I am actively contributing to gallery exhibitions.

Current Work

My current work is centered in the following areas:

Fine-Art Landscape & Natural History

Among my deepest passions is a love for the outdoors. Capturing on film or pixels the natural scenes I encounter when outdoors has always been my greatest interest, especially when venturing off the beaten path. I’m currently exploring several thematic concepts for future exhibition.

Fine-Art Travel

I’m lucky to have had the opportunity to travel extensively throughout my life. Perhaps the one thing I’ve enjoyed almost as much as landscape and nature photography, is travel photography. Documenting the people, culture, architecture, and lifestyles of the places I visit, and creating photographic art from the scenes I encounter, has always been highly rewarding. In more recent years, I’ve become interested in the urban landscape as a primary subject itself.

Instructional Photography Workshops

I have taught photography workshops via my own workshop brand, Peterson Photo Workshops, since 2006. I have also produced and taught workshops for a variety of other organizations. Having prior experience teaching at the college level has provided me with both confidence and sound instructional design such that workshop production and delivery is great fun.

Art Community Involvement

In addition to my work as an artist, I strive to be involved and give back to the art community. I have served as a juror for both photographic and non-photographic art exhibitions for organizations such as Octagon Center for the Arts, Iowa Arts Council, Iowa State Fair Photography Salon, Silos and Smokestacks Heart of America Photo Contest, and for camera clubs throughout the Midwest and Rocky Mountains. I’ve also been a member of the Octagon Center for the Arts’ Board of Trustees (including terms as both Vice-President and President). I frequently present to photography and arts organizations on photography topics.

Partial Client List

Occasionally, one or more of my images is licensed by an editorial or commercial entity.
Also occasionally, I accept an assignment for a commercial or editorial project.
Here are a few select recent clients:

So how can I help you?

Please start a conversation to discuss your next project or commission, or your interest in adding an original Mark S. Peterson photograph to your collection. I look forward to hearing from you.