“It's like music without lyrics. There's a melody present and it makes you feel a certain way, but you don't know why. It's just sound waves. These are just lightwaves. This is just me showing you the world through my eyes.”

This is how Mark Paulda describes his photography, but such simple words belie the beauty and boldness of his creations. Upon retiring from a successful career in the special event industry, Mark turned to photography as a creative outlet. With noted London mentors Kobi Israel and Rupert Truman, he learned the rules and more importantly how to break them. “I'm aiming more toward just the visual: not telling a story, not describing a place, but just making a great photograph, whatever it takes,” he explains. “Whatever works is whatever works. It might be that nobody even knows what the image is, but the colors, shapes, forms and textures create a feeling in the viewer, though you don't know why.”

From "straight photography" to more creative and innovative work the camera is never far from Mark's side and he has learned to view the world around him in a new and unique way. There is a sense of rebirth in this photographer and a commitment to show the viewer surroundings they may not see on their own. Photography provides an opportunity to explore and be adventurous, outside and within, which is the true spirit of Mark Paulda.

Nowhere is this objective more powerfully apparent than in CelebratingEl Paso, Mark’s first published collection focusing on his border hometown. A consistent best seller throughout West Texas and the first book of its kind on El Paso, the book provides a gorgeous look at the unique geography andcityscapes of the world’s largest borderplex. In documenting the uniquebi-cultural heritage that is El Paso, Paulda offers time-lapsed evocations of traffic at twilight to explorations of the majesty of the mountains ringing the city, celebrating the locale that occupies a unique vantage point on the border of two countries, three states, a military installation, and an Indian reservation.

“I found an El Paso I had never seen before,” he says. “I discovered the remarkable architecture, a mountain that has moods and changes from day to day, a landscape that is truly unique, sea of lights that go on forever as El Paso and Juárez become one, and so much more.” To capture all this, Mark and his camera spent two years scouring city streets, scaling rooftops, climbing mountains and soaring in the sky for aerial shots. “This city is in a time of renewal and self-discovery,” Mark continues. “One of my goals with this project has been to show our area in a positive light and let it shine.”

Recognition and awards came early in Mark Paulda's photography career and continue his way, including: finalist, 2008 International Travel Photographerof the Year; semi-finalist, Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year; semi-finalist for landscape at the Venice International Photo Awards; and 3^rdprize, Prix de la Photographie Paris. His photographs have been exhibited atthe Dallas Arboretum, the 2008 International Exhibition of Fine Art Photographyat the Center for Fine Art Photography (Fort Collins, Colorado); the Georgetown Art Hop (Georgetown, Texas), and many other venues.

Mark’s work has been used in magazines across the globe and can also be found in David Tucker’s London Stories as well as Reflections of Lake Lenore by Karen Griffiths (which also features Mark’s work on its cover).

A member of London Photographic Association, Texas Photographic Society, Royal Photographic Society and Center for Fine Art Photography, Mark is the sole photographer represented by Hal Marcus Gallery (800 North Mesa Street, El Paso, Texas 79902, 915-533-9090). He is also a contributor to the prestigious Getty Images Collection. Mark’s photographs are available through markpaulda.com and the Hal Marcus Gallery. He is currently at work on two new projects: TexasState of Mind and London in Motion. Follow him on www.flickr.com/mpauldaand www.facebook.com/markpaulda.

“Life is very much like this for myself, simple andreal, and this is what I prefer my photographic portfolio to reflect.”

Mark Paulda—awards & recognition

ArtBinational 2008 Binacional de Arte

Black and White Spider Awards,Commended Abstract Photographer
Center for Fine Art Photography International Exhibition, Finalist—StreetPhotography Center for Fine Art Photography Artist's Showcase, Highly Commended

El Paso Arts International Show,Photography Jurors' Recognition Award

International Color AwardsPhotography Masters Cup, Abstract Finalist
International Photography Awards, Certificate of Achievement

London Photographic Awards, HighlyCommended
National Geographic Exhibition, New York City
Newspace Center for Photography Exhibition, Finalist
Photographer's Forum, Award of Excellence
Photography Masters Cup, Winner

Pilsner Urquell InternationalPhotography Awards, Honorable Mention
PX3 Prix De La Photographie Paris, Honourable Mention
Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Semi-Finalist—Wild Places, UrbanWildlife,
In Praise of Plants

Travel Photographer of the Year,Finalist
Venice International Photo Awards, Semi-Finalist—Landscape

Venice International PhotographicAwards, Commended

What people are saying about Mark Paulda’s Celebrating El Paso:

GeneStarner, Barnes & Noble

"Mark Paulda's abiding romance with his home city of El Paso is apparent in nearly every photograph inthis lush coffee table pictorial. Constantly changing scale and strategy, he reveals the allure of this many-sided city; ambitious aerial shots rubbing shoulders with a sun-drenched close-up of an outdoor flower market or a complex mirror image of postmodern buildings. These artful, affectionate views are, we are told, the first-ever photographic celebration of El Paso. It was worth thewait."

El PasoMayor John Cook:

"This publication, beautifully shot and compiled by El Paso photographer Mark Paulda, offers any reader—or viewer—a poignant, visual take on the city’s unforgettable land and cityscapes."

What people are saying about Mark’s photography:

"What instantly warmed me toMark was the way that he reached out to touch the soul of my unique city, proving himself to be an outstanding ambassador of the very specialcircumstances here, evident also in the incredible collection of artistic andimaginative images he produced as testimonials to his emotions." (JanysHyde, Venice, Italy)

"You have an amazing talent for photography, for visual perception,composition, follow-thru, and an overwhelming intelligence and understanding of the world." (Matt Carr)

“You must live in a beautiful place as you make it like a place I must visit." (Jane Victoria)

"Mark is such a talented guy with an eye for beauty...whether it be natural or urban, he can "tease" that special photo out of any situation. Thank you for your wonderful shots, I feel as tho I have been traveling around the world with you over the past few months and we have been to some awesome places!" (Becky, Memphis, Tennessee)

"Beautiful...apparently El Paso is a great place for photos...you never deprive us of seeing something fantastic. Thanks." (CarrieAnn Fahs)

"Mark Paulda has a great eye for photography...I love his work…he takes me on vacations and doesn't even know it." (Conetta Jean)

“What I enjoy about the photography is not only the unlikely views that most citizens will never encounter, but also how he portrays them with the use of his creative eye. While some images are mainly informative and straight forward, most of them aretaken with a bit of Paulda’s artistic flair. These images are definitely not just candid snapshots.” (KeithAllyn Spencer)

"Extraordinary set of images! You have captured a side of Venice that for a typical photographer is not easy to find.” (Tereke)