Mark McNeil

Mark started life surrounded by the spectacular physical character of New Mexico -- the animals, plants, and natural formations. His father was the first superintendent of Chaco Canyon National Monument, the ancient people's capital, and the Monument became Mark’s first home. Later homes included El Morro National Monument (“Inscription Rock”), a stone bulletin board for the ages (where his father introduced him to photo printing), followed by the tiny village of Ramah, and, for school, the metropolis of Gallup (ca. 14,000 inhabitants at the time).

In childhood, Mark always marveled at the nature, cultures, and languages around him and the exquisite art of his friends and classmates, while recognizing that he himself couldn't draw an identifiable figure. In Gallup, though, working in the studio and camera shop of a talented local photographer, he took a firmer grasp on the medium and equipment that would allow him to show appreciation for what his eye had long recognized, and as soon as he could afford his own camera, he began both documenting and interpreting what he saw.

Following an East Coast legal education, Mark enjoyed studying cultures and languages while pursuing a career of negotiating and drafting international contracts, always traveling with a camera in hand. 40 countries later, the pull of his homeland has drawn him back to New Mexico, where he continues to discover the beauty and complexity of the land and its inhabitants, whether two-legged, four-legged, slithering, or rooted, all under the same, incomparable New Mexico sky.

View of a natural rock formation with a large circular hole in the reddish-orange cliff, surrounded by green trees and a blue sky in the background.
Scenic view of a calm river reflecting red and green rocky cliffs and forested hills under a cloudy sky.
Rock formations with layered orange and beige hues in a narrow canyon under a clear blue sky.
A large rocky cliff with a waterfall feature in the hillside, tall pine trees, and a grassy field with yellow flowers under a clear blue sky.
An orange cat sits on a white cushion by a window, looking outside to green trees. To the left, a large bouquet of purple lilac flowers is arranged in a blue vase, with decorative items and a candle holder nearby.
A lone tree grows on ancient stone ruins in a misty mountainous landscape with clouds and steep cliffs.
A rugged rock formation in a desert landscape under a cloudy, stormy sky.
Mountain range with rugged peaks and a partly cloudy sky
Multiple colorful hot air balloons floating in the sky over a city and distant mountains during daytime.