The Purpose of My Work:
Sharing images to remind us of what the land looked like before humans altered it.
Connecting people to the natural world through photos of our beautiful landscapes.
Inspiring you to become an active participant in saving our public lands.
10% of every print purchase is donated to the Oregon Natural Desert Association and Oregon Desert Land Trust.
Why aren’t there any people in your photos?
Through extensive time spent in nature and making my own deep connection to the land, I have seen how the immense power of natural forces dwarfs anything mankind has created. I am sharing a vision of the landscape that perhaps the first humans encountered about 15,000 years ago, in order to remember THE LAND BEFORE MAN.
Meet your friendly photographer,
Mark Darnell
The more I explore the Oregon High Desert, the more I fall in love with the vast distances and remarkable beauty. When back home, I dream of the next dramatic landscape I will discover in the wild backcountry of remote southeast Oregon.
Early on, I was hesitant to reveal the location portrayed in a photograph, worried that someone else would take the same shot. But I later became even more concerned that if the general public doesn’t know the beautiful public lands are out there, then only the local commercial interests would have a say in what happens to these lands in the future. I realized that to help protect these amazing places from being lost to development, they MUST be shared.
I hope you will find a way to visit these southeastern Oregon wonders, and others in the West, and fall head over heels in love!