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Mark Cassino is a fine art and natural history photographer based out of Kalamazoo, Michigan. His work runs the gamut from micro-photographs of individual snow crystals, to close ups of butterflies and birds, to landscapes depicting Michigan’s unique terrain.

Mark uses a variety of techniques to create his unique images. He works with the latest digital technology, but also utilizes medium format film cameras and toy, junk, and antique devices. His creative techniques include extreme close up photography, digital and film based infrared photography, alternative B&W processing techniques, and digital enhancement.

Working from both a scientific and artistic perspective, Mark’s works have been exhibited in a diverse variety of venues.

His scientific photos have been displayed in the gallery of the National Botanical Gardens in Washington, D.C., on several covers of American Entomologist, in Science World, and in numerous textbooks, calendars, and trade publications. His work has appeared on many science oriented websites, including those of the US Department of Agriculture’s Systemic Entomology Laboratory, NASA, and the popular radio series Earth and Sky.

His fine art work has appeared in national and regional juried art shows, including the 2004, 2006, and 2008 American Landscapes national juried show sponsored by the Maryland Federation of Art. His work has also appeared in The “Rural Outdoors” and Selected Works from the Rural Outdoors exhibits in New York State, the 2003, 2004, 2005, and 2009 West Michigan Area Show, sponsored by the Kalamazoo Institute of Art, and the 2005 All Michigan / All Media exhibit, sponsored by Ferris State University’s Rankin Art Gallery. In 2004, one of Mark’s pieces won Best Photograph award in the Indiana Wildlife Artists National Juried Show, and in 2002 his work was awarded First Place designations in both the lighthouse and open categories of the Harbor Lights International Photography Contest.  His work was also accepted into the 2006 Krappy Kamera Contest, a national exhibit of photos taken with toy cameras, hosted by the Soho Photo Gallery in New York City. Two of his photos were accepted into the 2008 Macroworld competition, hosted by the Center for Fine Art Photography in Fort Collins, Colorado. One of his pieces was also accepted into the 2008 Street Photography competition, also hosted by the Center For Fine Art Photography.

One of Mark’s specialties is close up photos of individual snow crystals. His technique utilizes ordinary photographic gear to capture close up images of the tiny crystals. Mark teamed with physicist Jon Nelson to write The Story of Snow: The Science of Winter’s Wonder which was published in October, 2009, by Chronicle books. The book has been very well received in its first few months, including being named a Outstand Science Trade Book by the National Science Teachers Association, a Junior Library Guild Selection, a featured selection for the Bulletin of the Center for Children’s Books, and the New York Public Library’s list of 100 Title for Reading and Sharing, 2009. It has also received favorable reviews from sources as diverse as The Austin American-Statesman daily newspaper, School Library Journal, and Kirkus Reviews. The chicagotribune.com also included The Story ofSnow in its “18 New Holiday Books for Children” published on November 30, 2009.

Mark lives in Kalamazoo with his wife, Pam, and their two cats. He works as the Human Resources Director of a multi-state not-for-profit organization. Mark attended the University of Michigan and has a BA in English Literature.