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“FOCUSED ON THE POWER, BEAUTY AND GRACE OF CREATION…” ABOUT MARK “Focused on the power, beauty and grace of Creation in the wilderness and unspoiled places of the American West and beyond, my mission is to attempt to capture these elements using digital photography and convey them in fine art prints. It is my hope that my photography will inspire people to have a healthy reverence for the natural world around us and lift their eyes to the One who created it.”  Mark Overton’s passion for fine art landscape photography has developed from a life long love of the outdoors. First exposed to photography in high school, he learned the fundamentals in a traditional darkroom and enjoyed looking for photographic compositions in the nearby opens spaces. While in college, he backpacked in various California wilderness areas and studied economics, geography and environmental issues of the American West. After graduation he entered the workforce but the “call” of the mountains was still audible. Vacation time was spent camping and hiking while focusing on photographing God’s diverse creation as Mark sees it in nature. Having spent many years in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada, Mark and his wife Lauralee now live in Colorado where wilderness photography opportunities are plentiful. Creating fine art images and landscape prints is a great way to blend Mark’s background, interests, beliefs, and goals. ACCOMPLISHMENTS
2009 International Photography Awards - Professional - Fine Art - Landscape - Honorable Mention - Title: Blurred Perception 
2008 Chosen for a Juried Group Exhibition: “Under the Influence: Ansel Adams & His Legacy” - Avenue 9 Gallery - Chico, CA 
2007 International Photography Awards - Professional - Fine Art - Landscape - Honorable Mention - Title: Rock Wall and Water  PROCESS Most of Mark’s landscape photography knowledge has been developed through experience and independent study. Understanding technical details is necessarily important but using a rigid formula for photography composition is not enough. Mark is currently interested in producing fine art images that go beyond the look of his more traditional landscapes. The freedom to experiment, coupled with self-directed learning, helps to keep his creativity, curiosity and imagination sharp and clear which leads to a fresh perspective uniquely his own. Mark begins the image capture process by analyzing topographic quadrangles, National Forest maps, atlases, hiking books and other informative sources. Formulating a photo shoot plan includes factoring in the best time of day to visit a location and the possible lighting scenarios based on the season and weather conditions. When the time is right, he sets up the tripod for his digital camera and determines the appropriate settings to use for the style of image desired based on the given conditions. Shooting in RAW mode, a remote shutter release is used and light permitting, several shots with subtle variations in composition and exposure value are taken. After the scene is captured, Mark mentally locks in the view for editing reference later back in front of the computer. This is done in an effort to match the shot with the actual splendor of the moment. However, due to the difference between the way the camera and the human eye see the world, it is rare, if not impossible, to truly achieve this equivalent. He strives for this elusive goal and in Mark’s opinion this is the essence of photography. In fact, this process of capturing and creating prints that fulfill the creative vision of the artist is the definition of fine art photography. ASSOCIATIONS
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