Mark Braun
Mark’s interest in photography began as a young teenager when his parents gave him his first single lens reflex camera. Experience as a high school yearbook photographer, freelance photographer for a weekly newspaper, and later a product photographer for catalogs and training programs at Stanley Tools helped mold his technical and artistic skills.
After college as a young professional in business, he put his cameras away for 20 years to pursue what he thought was a more practical path. A trip to Yellowstone National Park in 2000 and encouragement from friends reawakened his passion for photography.
Since then, photography has become an increasing part of his life.
- His photographs have been accepted and displayed in St. Louis at the Foundry Art Centre, the 20:08 Gallery along with several others.
- In 2007 his work was shown along with his mother’s watercolor paintings in a mother/son show in Cleveland, OH called "Reîections".
- He’s also received recognition in several international competitions and attended The Maine Photography Workshops, studying under Freelance and National Geographic photographers.
Mark has been a member of the St. Louis Camera Club since 2005 and has served on the board, multiple committees, was co-chair of the annual seminar for 5 years and judged for the club on several occasions.
Mark has also been involved with the IPHF (International Photography Hall of Fame and Museum) since its move to St. Louis. Initially, he was on the transition committee during the move and rented the facility for his first retirement in 2013. He has served on the inductee selection committee for the past 5 years and was recently appointed to the Board of Directors to be co-chair of the 1839 Society.
He is also a commissioner on the Kirkwood Arts Commission and a member of the Kirkwood Arts Foundation.
He currently has work on display at The Willows and Soulard Art Gallery.
His photographs, cards, and other works can be seen at www.braunsOriginal.com, 500PX, Fine Art America