12th Annual Palo Alto Weekly Photo Contest
Third Place, Manipulated Images
"Flower Towers"
By Mark McAfee Brown
About Mark McAfee Brown
;) Click on photo for larger image. |
The colorful manipulated images created by graphic artist Mark
McAfee Brown rarely originate in the film of a camera. Instead,
the 51-year-old Mountain View resident utilizes Photoshop, a
scanner and his imagination.
"I'm amazed at the depth and feel you can get off
the scanner," he said.
One such image, "Flower Towers," earned Brown third place in the Manipulated
Images category of this year's contest. To achieve the desired outcome he placed
various flowers on the scanner -- from amaryllis and orchids to iris and poppy
-- and blended them in Photoshop. "Flower Towers" is one part of
a series Brown has been working on for nearly eight years, others of which
were
on display at the Palo Alto Research Center last fall.
Born in New York, Brown moved to Palo Alto with his family in 1963. He attended
the now-defunct Stanford Elementary School, Gunn High School and Stanford University,
where he majored in art. He later went on to receive a master's degree in fine
arts/graphics and continues to study graphic design and art, a subject he finds
very rewarding professionally.
"Art is the most fun way to earn a living I've ever found," he
said.
Among his inspirations in life, Brown counts people such as
painter Wayne Tebo, photographer Andrea Gurskey, and his father,
longtime
Stanford professor
and Presbyterian minister Robert McAfee Brown. Robert Brown, labeled by many
as
an "anti-war
icon," passed away in September, 2001.
In addition to his interest in art, Brown enjoys hiking, bicycling, backpacking,
travel (to such locales as Costa Rica and Scotland) and spending time with
his 15-year-old son. Brown's unorthodox techniques and visual talents continue
to
bloom, and he plans to stay up-to-date on blossoming technology. Many of
his works can be seen by visiting his Web site, www.MarkBrowndigitalarts.com.
-- Tyler Hanley
Stay informed.
Get the day's top headlines from Palo Alto Online sent to your inbox in the Express newsletter.
Register today to support local nonprofits
The 38th annual Moonlight Run and Walk is Friday evening, September 9. Proceeds go to the Palo Alto Weekly Holiday Fund, benefiting local nonprofits that serve families and children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Join us under the light of the full Harvest Moon on a 5K walk, 5K run, 10K run or half marathon. Complete your race in person or virtually to support local nonprofits.
