a brief history of mark swirsky...

(see links above for portfolios)

The taking of pictures is really a rather mechanical thing, but to take a picture that has meaning and sensitivity usually requires many years to develop that certain nebulous quality known as a “photographer’s eye”.

Mark Swirsky, of Pittsfield, Massachusetts, was aiming a toy camera at people and going “click-click” at the age of 18 months, which may help explain why he developed such a keen eye at such an early age. By 14 he’d already been printing in his own darkroom for 4 years, had a one-man show at the Berkshire Museum, photos accepted and printed in the Sprague Electric Photo Calendar, pictures published in the Berkshire Eagle newspaper and dreams of becoming a photo-journalist.

In 1979, after finishing college with a degree in Fine Arts, Mark decided to return to his home town of Pittsfield to run his family business, Photo Shop, and pursue his interest in photography.

“baseball wedding”

while on assignment for

“the berkshire eagle” - age 13

prize-winning

“kodak snapshot award” photo, taken at age 15

favorite portrait of a high-school friend, taken at age 17