Mark Mabry

Jefferson... behind the scenes stills.

Monticello was fantastic. In fact all of these images were taken over a year ago on an evolving project about America's founders and the roll that their faith played (and didn't play) in the foundation of our country. I was lucky to be a tag along on that film project, meaning I didn't produce it. Lee Groberg did. He is excellent. As soon as the documentary comes out I'll post.

In the meantime though... enjoy these promised outtakes.

  

 

 

*this was in Philadelphia, Campos Philly Cheese steaks claims to be "the best in Philadelphia", but as I looked around town there were about 50 others making that claim. They were pretty good though.

** Lee and an extra at Massachusetts Bay Colony.

*** Yours truly in an itchy wig near the Adams home provided by Greg Moon.

 

Above is a walkway on Jefferson's Property. Below is a an early daguerreotype that I swiped from Jefferson's library. (Just kidding) But our actor looks great eh?                                                                                                                    

For those of you that got my mailer, you saw this, but just in case, here is a the first ever canvas we're releasing from this set. 

 

When Jefferson told King George III that it was time for the colonies to be free, already men and women were spilling their own blood for the cause. The war continued for around eight years. But, it’s interesting to note that freedom seemed to begin the moment they declared it, not just after the war was won. It was as if redemption had already been made the moment they decided to break their ties with tyranny. The feeling was so real that they wagered their “lives, fortunes, and sacred honor” to keep it.

As part of a Lee Groberg documentary about faith and America’s founders, I was invited to make pictures in some of America’s most historic locations.

This particular image was shot at Monticello, just off of Jefferson’s back porch. We were privileged to film throughout the night at this powerful place. Every square inch of the premises was an homage to the brilliance and depth of Thomas Jefferson’s mind.

The complexity of his mind thankfully gelled around one simple idea... Freedom.

This is the first time that Jefferson is published. Click here for exclusive first time discounted offer.

 

 

 

 

half off... Father's day print.

Hi Everyone,

I'm trying to get big prints on peoples walls, obviously. Here is the big one on my wall. Behold the Mabry Family Mantle, in case you're confused, let the big "M" that my wife's friend gave her for Christmas keep you from getting lost. Here it is.

Also, thank you to everyone who volunteered to be in the images of Last Supper and Adam & Eve. The spots are filled, thank you again.

I'm excited to show you what we get.

For now, if you'd like to get half off of a big Teacher canvas click on the picture or click here.

Location, Location, Location.

I've had a great time over the last few days looking for locations... Found this lone and dreary world today a little south of Prescott, AZ. We have a fantastic location for the Last Supper as well. Marko came with me on the scout, it was nice to have someone to whom I could dictate my texts. We also got a burger at the Chuckbox. We talked about Adam and Eve, school, football, and buying fireworks. Here are a few pics.

P.S. I've almost reached my decision on Adam and Eve, hang in there. Thank you for ALL of the pictures. Tough decision.

Update, last call for casting.

Hi Everybody, I'm working hard to review all of the pictures that people have sent me. I'm still accepting pictures for Adam and Eve and the Last Supper. We'll be shooting one day between June 20-23, TBA. The photography will take place in Arizona and is on a volunteer basis. I appreciate your help and interest. We've had great response. Please don't hesitate to sent something to me.

Mark

New Picture Offer.

For the pricing on the new picture entitled "He Came Unto Them"... Click Here.

Marky's Photography Success. Signing at Junky Trunk. I'll your profile pic.

Just got back from my printer's, where I signed a bunch of new canvases... This is the first time I've ever printed this particular one. It's called "He Came Unto Them". The back story is kind of funny...

I took my son, Marky, who was seven-years-old and I gave him one of my cameras to carry around and take pictures. When we got home, I loaded all of the images into my computer... Marky’s and mine together. Marky claims that the original “Walking on Water” was taken with his camera. So, I guess this new version is mine. Here is a link to the super discounted limited offering.

 This is one of the very first prints. I'm going to be at Junky Trunk Boutique in Mesa, AZ tomorrow between 11-2 with a bunch of prints for sale. I can personalize them or whatever you'd like. We'll have a bunch of different images and canvas sizes.

I'll also be taking new Black and White facebook profile pics for anyone that shows up. I hope to see you there! 

*After Marky got tired of watching us he turned his camera to nature... here is a starfish ala Marky.

**This is Junky Trunks cool trailer that sits outside thier store on Val Vista and Southern in Mesa.

**** Marky and the camera

 

Another Casting Call: Adam and Eve

Between June 20-23, I'm working on several images. One is the Last Supper (I'm still accepting volunteers). Another image that I'm working on is Adam and Eve post-expulsion from the Garden of Eden (so you'll basically be dressed- just to head off anyone's witty banter about being in the Garden). I'd love to cast a husband and wife. Please send me via Facebook or mark@reflectionsmg.com, a full body picture of both of you together, I want to see height. I have no other suggestions as far as look... I'll know it when I see it. Again, this is a volunteer thing, it'll hopefully be a good experience for those involved.

Thanks,

Mark

Free Print for Soldier Family.

Soldiers blow my mind. What an absolutely committed lifestyle choice. On the one hand you committ to give your life if asked. But if you get into it and change your mind, the very people you protect can try you, jail you, or at least give you an official "dishonerable discharge". There is no committment in the corporate world like that one.

So we ought to celebrate them them to the fullest!

I was inspired by this photograph, taken by Frank Gomez- LCPL (who is  in the process of getting a Purple Heart he rightfully deserves).

(the Navy pic is my son Marky and his cousin Tyke, their wearing Grandpa Mabry's Navy patches, 2009- San Diego. *He and my grandma met a couple of weeks before he deployed to fight in WWII. They were married in 8 days in Hemmett, CA and stayed married for over 65 years. Thanks to Grandpa, I usually choke up during the pledge and love Anchors Aweigh.)

My cousin Eric did several tours recently and now deals with the effects of Post Tramatic Stress. His committment to the country and the marines is 100%. His service cost him dearly.

God Bless Frank, Eric, and every other Soldier. 

On the Reflections of Christ Fanpage we're giving away a first time print to the soldier whose picture gets the most likes, please encourage your service man/woman or their famiy to submit a pic. We'll be giving away this image from a forthcoming series called "America's First Freedom" (Groberg/Mabry) 

 

 

 

Casting Call.

Hi Everyone,

I'm getting ready to do a Last Supper image for a project. I'm casting for Apostles. I need twelve weathered, bearded, men. Please email me with a headshot. Also, this is volunteer, each participant will receive a print of the image. We'll be shooting in Arizona on a day later in June. Super excited to work with you to make a new picture! 

Mark

 

My Mistress... photography.

 
I have a love/hate relationship with photography. On one hand it's the ultimate in self entertainment. On the other hand it's such a pain in the butt. I love, LOVE, good photographs. They vex me generally because of their perceived simplicity. For all of the fretting we do to get lighting right,style it, and then shoot, the best shot invariably happens when something goes wrong. A light breaks. The model laughs and blows diet coke out of her nose. (The diet coke flying out isn't the good shot, but it's the relative ease that is produced once both parties lose all of their dignity that creates the best shot).

I romanticize about street photography. No set up. Just observation and the gumption to go and photograph someone. 

One of my favorite blogs is "the sartorliast" by photographer Scott Schumann. He's brilliant in concept... and concept nearly always trumps technique. 

The Sartorialist from Amsterdam Worldwide on Vimeo.

 

 

Here is something that has vexed me. Why are we as photographers so uncreative? We claim a quasi-alternative lifestyle while copying mercilessly other peoples techniques and ideas. Copying is not bad, if I had a nickel for all of the times I knocked off Annie Liebovitz I would have atleast a buck twenty. Case in point... The 2010 Mabry Family Pic and Leibovitz's Journeys for Louis Vuitton. 

 

 

Anyway, back to copying technique. I've met a lot of "natural light photographers" and after they tell me why they choose to use no lighting help I discover that they don't know how to use a strobe or anything else for that matter. Copying is cool, but let's copy from those that are great at what we want to copy. So "natural light" friends... copy Della Bass! She is gutsy with her natural light and doesn't automatically look for the open shade... Doesn't hide behind a plug-in to make up for wimpy decisions at the lens. She's a renaissance woman in clean photography. She's like the Rolling Stones  in artistic simplicity. I freaking love The Stones. 

 

 

So I've decided to start taking more pictures, every day. I just bummed a neck strap off of my buddy Steve Porter -whose camera I once dropped down a ravine. I'm going to get a littler lens and start just shooting more... like the Stones would. 

I'm going to start treating my mistress, photography, a little better.

Here are some actual "street" pictures, as opposed to "street photography". I always seem to be driving when I get a good view. These are when I actually stopped the car to look.