Artist Highlight

Mark's appreciation of nature naturally carried over into his adult life. While attending Pharmacy College at the University of Florida in Gainesville, he found himself surrounded by new environments to explore. Even with a demanding academic schedule, he always found time to explore the nearby freshwater springs and hardwood forests. One of his favorite places to visit was Paynes Prairie Preserve, just outside of town. Highway 441 cuts right through the preserve for a couple of miles. Along that short stretch of highway, especially after a strong rain, dozens of animals could often be found. Turtles, frogs, alligators and several snake species would "migrate" across the road. This is where Mark first started taking pictures of wildlife. At that time, he had absolutely no thought of becoming a professional photographer. He simply wanted to capture on film what he had seen to show others.