Collection: Mark Woods

In 2004, he built a darkroom at his residence in Pasadena as he scaled back his film work. The darkroom can handle negatives up to 11” x 14” for contact printing and negatives up to 8” x 10”. He has a series shot in Berkeley from 1968 to 1973 (comprising 4000 images) while studying at UCB, along with others taken in the Arroyo in Pasadena, Huntington Gardens, and various series featuring flowers, vegetables, and still lifes. His landscapes are captured in natural light, while smaller subjects are illuminated using both strobes and natural light.

In the current photography exhibition titled 'Arroyo Series,' Mark Woods presents a collection of images captured in the City of Pasadena’s Arroyo over six years. Utilizing View Cameras and black and white film, Woods prints these images on archival fiber-based paper, omitting digital processes entirely from the image-making. In his artist statement, Woods reflects, 'These images could’ve been shot a hundred years ago—some of the physical elements existed 100 years ago. I was interested in how people have changed the environment, yet the environment continues to thrive in unexpected ways. I also wanted to show how people have altered the landscape without depicting individuals. The presence of people is evident, yet unseen. This contrasts with our actual experience.'

You are invited to read the blog, 'Artistry in Focus: Mark Woods and the Arroyo Series,' for more information about Mark and his current art exhibition.