A TALENTED York photographer has landed a top award for his work.

Mark Pollitt, who lives in Bishopthorpe and is a member of The Press Camera Club, has been named Yorkshire Fine Art Photographer of The Year 2021.

Originally from Leeds, Mark emigrated to the USA at the age of 19. He is now retired and lives with his wife, Nicola. He says his favourite hobby, as a young boy, was photography and he had to save up hard, by mowing lawns, to buy his first camera.

When the pandemic came, Mark had been out taking photographs, and people were starting to tell him that they liked his work. He decided to join the British Institute of Professional Photography so that he could learn more about photography and to become a professional photographer. He decided in Lockdown to undertake his licentiate qualification.

Mark said: “My art is not just about what I see, but about what other people see in it. I want to transport people in to my photos.”

He had to submit a portfolio of 20 photographs, together with a business brief, which went before a panel of judges. He was successful in qualifying as a Licentiate with the British Institute of Professional Photography in January.

On Wednesday evening (September 15), Mark attended an awards ceremony in Pontefract, where he was awarded the Yorkshire Fine Art Photographer of The Year 2021.

Additionally, he was awarded Landscape and Travel Photographer of The Year for Yorkshire, along with two additional Merits for two of his images.

Mark has set up a photography business to sell his work and will be offering location workshops.

The next stage of Mark’s journey is studying for his associateship, with a submission date of Spring 2022.

Click here to view and buy Mark’s work.

Mark loves photographing The Lakes, The Dales, Northumberland and Scotland, but these are only a few of the locations that he has covered and he hopes to start travelling again, further afield, soon.Mark’s work will automatically be submitted to the national finals, with the British Institute of Professional Photography in November.