Testimonial by Peter Skinner about Mark A Johnson’s Photography
Freelance professional photography is not for the faint of heart. It takes talent, technical expertise, commitment to excellence in both the creative and business aspects of the field, and an unwavering belief in one’s own capabilities. And above you all, the successful freelance photographer must be passionate about what they are doing. Without that passion, exciting dreams and vision for the future will most likely remain just that—dreams! If ever there was a wonderful example of that adage about “a kid with a camera and a dream” living that dream, Mark Johnson could well be it. Case in point: after months of working a paper route as a kid in Hawaii so he could buy a Nikonos camera to shoot surfers in the water, he lost that first camera on the very first outing—in giant surf. So, what did he do? He went back to the paper route, saved up the money and bought another Nikonos, which he didn’t lose.
Since then, Mark has mastered the craft and business of lifestyle watersports. Many years ago, although a competent shooter as a result of his own self-education in Hawaii, he knew he needed a more formal education in the science, art, and business of professional photography so put himself through one of the leading schools of its kind in the world, Brooks Institute of Photography, Santa Barbara, Calif. At the time, I was the director of public relations, special projects and workshops at Brooks Institute and got to know Mark pretty well as he was one of the most capable assistants in the school’s workshop program. And more than that, he was unbelievably energetic and enthusiastic. What you get out of any education often depends on what you put into it—Mark put a great deal into it, making sure he got more than his money’s worth from Brooks Institute’s demanding courses.
Since that time, I have followed his career with great interest. He went his way, I went mine, but from time to time our paths crossed and I became increasingly impressed with his success in full-time stock photography, one of the most demanding and hardest fields to excel in. Rapid changes in the technology and business practices of stock photography have affected freelance photographers worldwide and only the most talented and dedicated have been able to stay afloat, let alone thrive.
Mark has stuck to his guns. He continues to produce exciting, fresh, cutting-edge images that meet the demands of agencies and clients internationally. It’s not easy maintaining a consistent flow of top quality photographs but Mark does this, year in, year out. And throughout all this he has never lost those two admirable traits that first made such an impression on me about 30 years ago—unbounded enthusiasm and energy. They, combined with his well-honed technical and creative skills, are reflected in the dynamic photography that emanates from his mind’s eye. To put it simply, he’s brilliant at what he does.
