We recently connected with Mark Indig and have shared our conversation below.
Mark, thanks so much for taking the time to share your insights and lessons with us today. We’re particularly interested in hearing about how you became such a resilient person. Where do you get your resilience from?
I spent over 40 years in film production as a Location Manager, Studio Executive, Unit Production Manager and Producer. I don’t think anything short of being in combat or working in an ER could have hardened me any more considering unrelenting pressure, sleep deprivation, long working hours, being away from home for up to a year at a time and exposure to the elements. Photography is a vacation in comparison.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Travel and photography are my passions, but not travel photography. I’ve been to and photographed all 50 states many times over and 55 countries. My main interest is the man made landscape; in other words the intersection of nature and humans presence on it. My sub specialties are roadtrips and small town America, which has been decimated and hollowed out and is the epicenter of recent political turmoil.
I try to focus on a region and tell that story through images. A good example might be my “Road to Nowhere” project. There is a single road (US 83) that travels 1800 miles from the canadian border to the mexican border through all the Prairie states. The landscape changed little, but the cultural changes were significant from North Dakota (95% white) to south Texas (95% Hispanic).
I’ve published 3 books and am usually exhibiting in a gallery somewhere.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
1. Patience is a virtue, but I also think impatience can be a powerful motivating force (in professional not personal life).
2. Perseverance/Dedication/Action – Things will not always go your way, but learning from negative events or outcomes will hone your ability to thrive.
3. Adaptability. In any creative venture, there is a long and winding road from idea to execution.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
Not a single person, but I’m embedded in the photographic community. I’ve never experienced such a group of people with shared interests that are so helpful with ideas, tips, constructive criticism, and willingness to share knowledge.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://markindigphoto.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mark.indig.3/
