I’m Mark Large, and I’m a photographer. Whenever others see my photographs, inevitably someone always asks: “How did you get that picture? It looks amazing!”Whenever others see my photographs, inevitably someone always asks: “How did you get that picture? It looks amazing!”

I’m not an arrogant guy, and I make no claims about being the best photographer, but I feel extremely humbled and fortunate that I’ve been able to capture some truly astonishing moments through the lens of a camera. I wish I had a worthy answer whenever someone asks me that question, but the truth is, my talent is equal parts luck, experience and timing.Whenever others see my photographs, inevitably someone always asks: “How did you get that picture? It looks amazing!”

I’ve been taking pictures for almost 20 years now, and I received much of my experience working as a professional photojournalist for The Daily Times newspaper of Maryville, Tennessee. Newspaper journalism is often a run-and-gun profession, and being in the right place at the right time is ideal training for capturing images that tell stories without words. I worked at The Daily Times for nine years, and in that time photography grew from a passion to a skill to a dedicated craft.

As a freelance web designer, I went to school at Pellissippi State Community College, but the “school” that taught me the most about photography has been the experiences I’ve been a part of on the other side of the lens. Whether it’s taking pictures of mayhem and tragedy or capturing the beauty in the smile of a child or scaling a rock face to get the perfect shot of an East Tennessee sunset, I endeavor to be in the right place, at the right time, to tell the right story.

Some of my photos have found their way into such publications as the 2010 Guidebook; “Stone Fort Bouldering: A Comprehensive Guide to the Boulder Problems of ‘Little Rock City”; and “The Obed: A Climber’s Guide to the Wild and Scenic.” Through syndication, many of my photographs for The Daily Times were picked up and published in other newspapers and periodicals around the country. I’ve even received a handful of awards for my photography.

None of those accolades can compare, however, to being asked that question: “How did you get that picture?” Call it intuition, call it the mind’s eye, call it the autopilot of being a visual artist … I don’t think about it too much. I just know that I can, and I’m grateful for the ability to be creative, be artistic and tell stories that evoke powerful emotions and unveil stark truths to the rest of the world.