About Us
Mark Edward Atkinson, Creative Director, Photographer
Mark is an accomplished professional photographer, documentarian, and writer and serves as a partner and creative director with Otto Design and Marketing. He started his career with the News and Observer in Raleigh, N.C. where he won his first professional award for a photo illustration. His photographs have subsequently appeared in Time, Newsweek, The Washingtonian, Esquire, The New York Times Sunday Magazine, Marie Claire, the National Enquirer and Communication Arts.
Mark has traveled the world meeting phenomenal people and shooting work for nonprofit organizations such as Operation Smile, Mercy & Sharing, ICD and the Charlotte Homeless. He has directed and shot several documentaries in the past 5 years on subjects covering homelessness, poverty, mental health and facial deformity. As a team photographer for Smile Train, Mark traveled to Southern India, China and Afghanistan to shoot both still photography and documentary film telling the stories of doctors and their clef palette patients.
Mark’s photography has appeared in exhibitions at The Chrysler Museum of Art, the Stanley Gallery, the Hermitage Museum, The Fayetteville Museum of Art, the Maine Photographic Show, Communication Arts, The One Show, and Photo District News. One of Mark’s images recently won a Best in Show award at an annual ASMP photography exhibition. His advertising and graphic designs have also won numerous ADDY Awards in recent years. His distinctive photographs and advertisements have been the focus of many hospitality, tourism, fashion, retail and lifestyle marketing campaigns. His images can be viewed at www.MarkAtkinson.com.
Barbara Ries’ photographs capture the essence of the human spirit. She has traveled the world documenting poverty and need with an empathetic eye. Her images move people into action.