About Mark O'Connell


I got my first taste of photography when I was 12. It all started with film and a kodak instamatic camera, I used medium format film cameras for many years, then I was an early adopter of digital and I haven't turned back. I love being outside and I love the challenge of recording on digital media what I saw and felt when I was making that capture. Often times I am all alone during those early mornings on the road or up that forever ending hillside in time for the almost always guaranteed spectacular sunrise. Even the warm evenings while at the beach or shoreline with dozens of people viewing the sunset, I'll be there with a sense of isolation, tuning out everyone and concentrating on selecting the right filters, exposure, and composition to tell the story of that end of days treat for my eyes.

Photography . . . I just love it!


Even after 50 years with a camera in my hand I cannot think of anything else that I'd rather be doing as a career or a hobby. The camera changed my life and opened up my world throughout the years. I've always been sort of an introvert. Traveling by myself or even going on an exploration of the nearby woodlands made be feel a little bit like a loner. With a camera in hand I felt that my true justification in life was to find something there that would help me relive those moments, and perhaps others would see themselves there too. Out and about in the fresh air was good for me!


From 1976 until maybe 1995 I shot film, and plenty of it. Photographing weddings, portraits, commercial, and even passports, I did it all! In 1996 I started discovering digital with a Kodak Digital Consumer Camera. Soon after I incorporated it into my business. Once the affordable pro-level cameras came on the market I stood in line to get in on the ground floor. It blew my mind that I no longer had to wait a week to see if my efforts were good like with using film. Having many digital cameras since then, and of course the plethora of lens, and software to match, I continue to hone my skills, enjoying each minute of the process.


So if you have to come across me during your travels feel free to come over and say hi. I'll be at my "happy place"

Accolades of course!


I guess this is the place where I tell you all the stuff I’ve accomplished over the years if you want to know those kinds of things.


I have been awarded numerous awards for my images in both national and state PPA levels, including a Court of Honor award presented from the Professional Photographers of New England. Valuing the importance of continued education, I am a member of Professional Photographers of Massachusetts, Professional Photographers of Cape Cod (where I serve as website development coordinator) and an alumni of New England Institute of Professional Photography. I was recently honored with the National Award from the Professional Photographers of Massachusetts for many years of contributions and service. Over the past years I has been giving seminars to other professional photographers, sharing many tips and tricks I’ve gathered over my career.


Life Outside of Travel & Photography


I live in Pembroke, Massachusetts with my beautiful wife, Susan, who, by the way is one fantastic photographer in her own right. I'm blessed and proud of my two sons Michael and Robert, plus six grandchildren, and our pet dashund Bailey round out my family. We run a full time portrait studio there. We travel as much as we can, but also enjoy taking walks in the 40 acre preserve behind our home.

I enjoy woodworking, construction projects, and tinkering around the yard.


So, if you’ve gotten to the end of this, thanks for listening!

Mark


See you on the shore!


I love being outside and I love the challenge of recording on digital media what I saw and felt when I was making that capture. Often times I am all alone during those early mornings on the road or up that forever ending hillside in time for the almost always guaranteed spectacular sunrise. Even the warm evenings while at the beach or shoreline with dozens of people viewing the sunset, I'll be there with a sense of isolation, tuning out everyone and concentrating on selecting the right filters, exposure, and composition to tell the story of that end of days treat for my eyes.

See you on the shore!


I love being outside and I love the challenge of recording on digital media what I saw and felt when I was making that capture. Often times I am all alone during those early mornings on the road or up that forever ending hillside in time for the almost always guaranteed spectacular sunrise. Even the warm evenings while at the beach or shoreline with dozens of people viewing the sunset, I'll be there with a sense of isolation, tuning out everyone and concentrating on selecting the right filters, exposure, and composition to tell the story of that end of days treat for my eyes.