About Mark Russell
Mark Russell - About my passion for photography:
"My photography days began in high school when a classmate of mine came to school with his 35mm camera and a zoom lens. I was amazed at the photos you could get with the thing. I ended up borrowing it for a few days to take some photos on my own. One of the first photos I remember taking was of geese that were at the construction site I was working. The photo, taken on my lunch break was of my hand holding a piece of bread and the head of a goose about 2 inches from his pro-offered snack. Not sure where that photo is today, but I do remember it as if it were yesterday.
In school I learned to develop black and white negatives we shot and also how to print photos. Another early photo was taken of friends jumping off a cliff into a huge snow pile. In the dark room I took one photo and printed on half the paper and then reversed the negative printing that image on the other half of the paper creating a mirror image. In essence my friend was holding his own hand while jumping off the cliff. That was how photo editing used to be.
All of these experiences has led me to continue my picture taking. Each photo to me is like opening a Christmas or Hanukkah gift that you have no idea what might be inside. When you see the results and the smile spreads across my face I know I have accomplished something. But, when the person in the photo or friends of mine see it and they smile, it becomes well worth it. A picture indeed can say a thousand words with out so much as uttering a single syllable."