Marc Kittner

Artist Statement:

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, raised in Rhode Island, I stayed in the east through college. There I majored in Philosophy, studying Hegel and Wittgenstein, both western philosophers steeped in eastern religion. I also took courses on Buddhism, Taoism and Chinese Painting. I then spent over 35 years in Seattle, with international travel regularly to Southeast Asia. 

I retired in 2018, when my wife and I moved to Philadelphia for her new job. Since then, photography, and particularly botanical photography, has been my focus.

Botanicals help me understand my own place in the world. I aim for what Buddhists call practicing beginner's mind; always practicing, trying to understand just what I should be learning in that moment, so to speak. Because I am taking between 20 and 100 exposures in sequence, each image is created slowly and quietly. When stitched together, they invite you to take more than a first glance before moving on.

Education:

Self-taught.

Awards & Distinctions:

Commendation, 2022 International Garden Photographer of the Year Macro Competition.

Honorable Mention, 2021 Toyko International Foto Festival.

Artistic Influences:

Georga O'Keefe, Dale Chihuly; Mogdigliani, Wen Zhengming.

Tags:

Macro, nature, flower, botanical, photography, floral.