Mark Pouley is a photographer that lives and works in the Pacific Northwest, one of the most beautiful areas of the United States. While based in Western Washington he spends a great deal of time with his family in Eastern Washington, particularly the northeastern Douglas and Ferry counties. Photography is a passion that brings Mark great joy. Mark captures and shares the beauty he sees each day in this splendid country. Mark’s collection primarily represents landscapes, flowers and scenic views found in Washington.
In the artist’s own words.
I didn’t start out to be an artist when I picked up my camera. For years I was the photographer for my kids’ soccer teams. I discovered a passion for capturing and sharing special moments. From there I flexed my creative muscles and soon started to capture a lot more than soccer.
My family has long enjoyed vacationing in the remote north eastern part of Washington state near the tiny town of Inchelium. Nearby, you will find the pristine Twin Lakes. The lakes are the scenic home of abundant fish and wildlife. I often found myself on the glassy lake at dawn or walking along a path on the shore enjoying the brisk clean air and sounds of nature. I always had my camera with me and soon I began capturing the beauty that surrounded me,translating the peace and tranquility of the Twin Lakes into photographs that shared my appreciation with the people who viewed them.
I live in an amazingly diverse part of the country including the fertile fields I see on my daily commute; the glorious waters of Puget Sound and the Pacific Ocean and the many rivers that flow into them; the majesty of the Cascade and Olympic mountains; the deserts and fields of eastern Washington and so much more. I’m captivated by the waters, and my art often features their color, texture and reflections. I always stop to capture a dramatic sky or wispy clouds. I enjoy the reward of getting up early to see the dawn mist blanketing the water and fields on a cool morning. Working in Skagit County offers me many opportunities to enjoy the colorful tulip fields during the annual festival. While nature is my primary muse, I always have my camera ready to capture the people, places and things I see daily.
While I generally portray my subject realistically, I am more pictorialist than documentarian. In the field I look for an unusual point of view or emphasize obscure details to offer a perspective the casual observer might miss if they were standing with me. In the studio I’m not shy about processing an image to enhance the scene or the mood of a particular piece. If that means emphasizing the color of a sunset, muting the tones of a foggy field, or eliminating a distracting branch or sign, I will. I capture and process my images for art, not journalism.
My photography reflects more then the scene; it conveys the mood of the place and time captured in the frame. My camera is the tool that enables me to immerse myself in the scenery, concentrate on capturing it, and momentarily put aside the heavy thoughts of work and life. Shooting and creating art is part therapy and greater part joy. My goal in sharing art with others is to help them escape into the scene, if only for for a moment, and share the feelings the subject brought to me.
I didn’t pick up my camera with the goal of becoming an artist, but my art evolved from the first moment I put my eye to the viewfinder. I let my vision and creativity capture a moment in time to tell my audience a story and feel an emotion. I want my audience to experience the passion and joy I experience creating the art. If I’m successful, the feelings will last much longer then the instant held within the frame and the viewer will be drawn to return to the image to see something new or experience the feelings again.
Twin Lakes Images 