(I wrote this up on Monday, which was World Photography Day)
Life is a journey. One of the best parts of any journey are the people you meet along the way.
Eight years ago, a guy named Mark Hersch decided to combine his lifelong love of photography, history, and architecture. The result was an incredible body of work. Mark takes historical photos of notable locations and combines them with a modern-day image from the exact (where possible) same vantage point. The final image is magic and time travel. History blends into the modern era and your present-day view of the world slips backward through the veil to see what was.
Mark’s work has been on my radar since he hit the art festival scene, well before I even dreamed of going professional with my work. He’s been a huge inspiration. As a lover of history myself, Mark’s work spoke to me at a deep level. It was innovative, it was creative. It was art, history, and science all rolled into one.
When I joined the art show circuit in 2019/2020, I realized we were exhibiting at the same shows. It was thrilling and intimidating all at the same time. Here was a guy I looked up to who was taking his passion and sharing it with the world. That’s what I wanted to do! And wow – I am sharing the same stage with him!
Imposter Syndrome kept me from actually introducing myself. He was an accomplished, award winning professional. I felt like just some guy off the street pretending to be an artist, trying to swim with the big fish. What business did I have pretending to belong at the same level?
In the winter of 2023, I attended a workshop aimed at helping newer artists with the art show process: how to present your work to a jury; how to display your workr; and such. Lo and behold, Mark was there too. I decided it was time to introduce myself and I wish I had done so earlier! Mark is gracious, humble, hilarious, and very willing to help the next generation of photographers.
This past weekend was my last time sharing the “Big Stage” with Mark. We have no other overlapping show dates this season and Mark has announced that this is his last season of touring. While he will continue to actively create, he will not be taking part in the show circuit. I chatted with him Sunday night as we were both breaking down our booths. While it wasn’t goodbye forever, it was a bit bittersweet. His words to me continued to be inspiring and left me quite emotional to be honest. Meeting your “heroes”/folks you look up to can be a challenge sometimes. They don’t always turn out to be the people you hoped they were. Mark is one hell of a guy. An amazing artist, and a great human, in a time where we all desperately need more great humans in our lives.
I look forward to learning from Mark while his fingers are still in the art world, and as long as he is still willing. Boiling hot days on the show circuit will be replaced with relaxed drinks somewhere nice. Hiding from the rain while trying to cover up our work will be replaced with enjoying the rain from somewhere more comfortable. I wish Mark all the best in retirement, but I have a feeling he won’t be slowing down anytime soon.
To Mark: Thank you for your inspiration, your humor, your advice and encouragement.
To everyone else reading this: find your mentor, or become the mentor that you needed for someone else.
