About Mark Primavera

Born and raised in Port Colborne, Ontario, Mark moved to Sault Ste. Marie in 1984 to attend Sault College where he graduated from the Forestry program. After working for a few years in the field of forestry, Mark became a lab technician for the Canadian Forest Service in Sault Ste. Marie and worked in the Biotechnology department for nine years. Being artistically inclined Mark transferred to the communications department, where he presently works as a Graphic Designer.

Mark's father started him on photography at age eight. His first camera was a 35 mm auto camera (GAF); by the age of thirteen Mark had built his own darkroom where he developed and printed black and white film. Inspired by his father, Mark quickly excelled in the Port Colborne and Welland Camera Club by competing in the club's nature (photography) competitions. In 1979 Mark achieved the "Slide of the year" award, the highest award in nature slide competitions. Mark's father and fellow members of the Welland and Port Colborne Camera Club inspired him to work harder at his photography and soon he was competing at an international level with the Canadian Artistic Photographic Association (CAPA).

Today, Mark enjoys exploring various aspects of photography including infrared, high-speed flash photography, studio photography and product photography. Working in digital format (Canon D20), Mark also uses medium format (Mamyia RB645), 120 (Yashica) square format and 35mm cameras. Experimenting with different techniques in photography Mark is always looking for ways to expand the realms of photography, "beauty is all around us, we just have to isolate it and capture it". Mark's father is presently 81 years of age and says "I've been taking pictures for over 50 years and I am still learning about photography". Photography really never ends, there's always something out there to try. For example, the next time you are in the vegetable department, look at the interesting lines and vibrant green in Boc Choi, or the interesting lines when you slice an onion in half and look at it against the light... "maybe this is food for thought"

Artist Statement

I am interested in examining structures in nature and exposing their underlying forms in unconventional ways. Through photography, I am able to have a direct dialogue with the forms that I capture, paring them down to their essential components. I look for and find stark beauty in the seemingly mundane.

I come from a science background, having studied forestry and working as a lab tech for years. My biotechnology influence permeates my work. However, my photographic explorations allow me to transcend the analytical and see the underlying aesthetic beauty. I am inspired by nature. The bulk of my subject matter consists of the natural world and the relationship we as human beings have with the world that we live in. Using an infrared technique, I seek the overlooked beauty of simple elements- a puff of smoke, a curving stem, a pensive glance. By using a consistent methodology, I am able to draw similarities across disparate subject lines.

My photographs illuminate the haunting and powerful presence of the simple. Blossoms, barns, trees and tombstones become monolithic. I also experiment with fractals - I like to explore the infinite complexities of natural forms. My body of work melds together to depict nature in new and poignant ways.