Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer
Field Photographer
"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust (1871 – 1922)
Following a twenty year hiatus from the arts, Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer recently rediscovered his passion for landscape photography. Making up for lost time, Marcus now finds himself involved in a flurry of photography expeditions. His travels encompass remote mountain ranges, silent slot canyons, lush coastal regions, hidden waterfalls, meandering rivers and urban landscapes.
Through his photography, Marcus attempts to capture the essential elements of nature, the magnificent beauty of our treasured lands and the fragile nature of today’s changing environment. His growing body of work celebrates the transient quality of light, the intricate patterns of nature and the joy of time spent in quiet exploration. Collectively, the images serve as a vivid reminder about the Earth’s delicately balanced ecosystem, underscoring the need for continued preservation of our wondrous land.
In his other real world life, Marcus serves as an administrator in the public sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Psychology from Michigan State University Honors College and master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. A native of Michigan, Marcus and his family reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Photography Credits
Marcus Reinkensmeyer's photography is on display at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. His photographic credits include publications in Backpacker, Country, Nature Photographer, The Scenic Store, Photographer’s Edge Photographer of the Month, Shutterbug's Final Thought, Experience Sedona 2023, Arizona Republic, Images Arizona, Awayn, Capture My Arizona Calendars (2013 and 2015), American Bible Society Calendars (2009 - 2016), Arizona Scenic Calendars (2008 - 2016), Where Dinosaurs Roamed: Lost Worlds of Utah's Grand Staircase, Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign calendar, South Carolina’s SCIway News, President’s Report for the South Carolina Association of Counties, Think Dunes, Arizona 2017 Official Visitor's Guide, The Grand Canyon State, Visit Phoenix: 2015 Official Travel Guide to Greater Phoenix and Ground of Being album cover; and People's Choice Apparel. His photography can also be found at Photo Argus, YouPic and in two books, Windscape Landscape: Images from the Arizona-Utah Border and From Rock to Sand: Death Valley Landscapes, created in collaboration with other Arizona photographers, and a self-published book, Landscape Photography: Photography Rediscovered.
Message from the Photographer
Unexpectedly enough, it all resurfaced again about ten years ago. Through some intense day hikes and the purchase of a high quality digital camera, my passion for landscape photography was reignited. Since a memorable day hike atop San Francisco Peaks (elevation: 12,633 feet), it seems like I am still making up for lost time.
Sure, I faithfully served as the family photographer over the years, but never had enough time or the inclination to resume serious nature photography for a period of nearly twenty years. Many of us fall away from the endeavors of our youth, as we tackle careers and family life. Somehow, I was fortunate enough to stumble back into the wonderful world of photography and rekindle a connection with the past. Curiously, this all transpired amidst the busiest time of my other “real world” professional life.
In college days at Michigan State University, I took a photography course and had the use of a sophisticated darkroom. Reflecting back on that time, my energy was directed to the technical aspects of photography and secondarily to a quest for creative artistic expression. Throughout my twenties, I had the opportunity to work with large and medium format cameras, mostly in black and white. Living in the State of Illinois, I was content to photograph any readily accessible parks, waterfronts and rural scenes. Here again, my efforts were largely directed to photography techniques, testing the limits of camera gear and producing precision images.
After a twenty year hiatus from any serious photography, my interest has shifted to exploration of remote wilderness areas and discoveries along the way. Technical aspects of photography remain important, but most of my time is spent finding truly remarkable scenic areas in locations less traveled.
Perhaps, this new “focus” is born from the year-round outdoors lifestyle living in Arizona, coupled with my passion for hiking and cycling. Or, as one would like to think, I may now be a bit older and wiser. Clearly, I now understand that the subject matter of a photographic image is more important than mere image replication and technical production. In any event, my current photography is inextricably linked to exploration of nature and time spent in the field.
This website presents some of my favorite landscape and waterfront photography, along with some new urban scenes. Some images are from long planned photo expeditions, like our time in a fierce sand storm during a memorable trek through Death Valley National Park. Others photos are from familiar Arizona-Utah locations revisited at every opportunity, including Monument Valley, Sedona and the Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area.
Admittedly, the camera is only able to capture traces of a nature scene, akin to a partial footprint in the shifting sand. After all, cameras only record light. Today’s most sophisticated photography does not even begin to approach the phenomenal perceptual capacity of the human eye and our other senses. Thus, the photographer is left to record “best impressions” of our dynamic visual world, within the confines of a static two dimensional medium.
My photography seeks to faithfully record and present these vague visual impressions, with emphasis on the splendors of nature and our fragile ecosystem.
Acknowledgements
I am truly indebted to my wife, Anita, family and friends, all of whom actively support my photography ventures. Thankfully, this support extends to a sometimes intense travel schedule, odd hours in the field and an obsessive-compulsive approach to project delivery. My fellow photographers and hikers are also a source of inspiration, and I truly value the lasting friendships forged through our mutual interest. Without their strong support and encouragement, I could not have embarked on this exciting new chapter.
Lastly, my heartfelt thanks goes to those who have charted and worked so hard to preserve our treasured wilderness areas; conservationists, park rangers, legislators and scientists. They are the true stewards of our wondrous “heaven on earth,” preserving our precious land and water for future generations.
Contact Information
Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer
[email protected]
Phone: 602-692-7027
Field Photographer
"The voyage of discovery is not in seeking new landscapes but in having new eyes." - Marcel Proust (1871 – 1922)
Following a twenty year hiatus from the arts, Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer recently rediscovered his passion for landscape photography. Making up for lost time, Marcus now finds himself involved in a flurry of photography expeditions. His travels encompass remote mountain ranges, silent slot canyons, lush coastal regions, hidden waterfalls, meandering rivers and urban landscapes.
Through his photography, Marcus attempts to capture the essential elements of nature, the magnificent beauty of our treasured lands and the fragile nature of today’s changing environment. His growing body of work celebrates the transient quality of light, the intricate patterns of nature and the joy of time spent in quiet exploration. Collectively, the images serve as a vivid reminder about the Earth’s delicately balanced ecosystem, underscoring the need for continued preservation of our wondrous land.
In his other real world life, Marcus serves as an administrator in the public sector. He holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts and Psychology from Michigan State University Honors College and master’s degree in Public Administration from Northern Illinois University. A native of Michigan, Marcus and his family reside in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Photography Credits
Marcus Reinkensmeyer's photography is on display at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix, Arizona. His photographic credits include publications in Backpacker, Country, Nature Photographer, The Scenic Store, Photographer’s Edge Photographer of the Month, Shutterbug's Final Thought, Experience Sedona 2023, Arizona Republic, Images Arizona, Awayn, Capture My Arizona Calendars (2013 and 2015), American Bible Society Calendars (2009 - 2016), Arizona Scenic Calendars (2008 - 2016), Where Dinosaurs Roamed: Lost Worlds of Utah's Grand Staircase, Hurricane Katrina Relief Campaign calendar, South Carolina’s SCIway News, President’s Report for the South Carolina Association of Counties, Think Dunes, Arizona 2017 Official Visitor's Guide, The Grand Canyon State, Visit Phoenix: 2015 Official Travel Guide to Greater Phoenix and Ground of Being album cover; and People's Choice Apparel. His photography can also be found at Photo Argus, YouPic and in two books, Windscape Landscape: Images from the Arizona-Utah Border and From Rock to Sand: Death Valley Landscapes, created in collaboration with other Arizona photographers, and a self-published book, Landscape Photography: Photography Rediscovered.
Message from the Photographer
Unexpectedly enough, it all resurfaced again about ten years ago. Through some intense day hikes and the purchase of a high quality digital camera, my passion for landscape photography was reignited. Since a memorable day hike atop San Francisco Peaks (elevation: 12,633 feet), it seems like I am still making up for lost time.
Sure, I faithfully served as the family photographer over the years, but never had enough time or the inclination to resume serious nature photography for a period of nearly twenty years. Many of us fall away from the endeavors of our youth, as we tackle careers and family life. Somehow, I was fortunate enough to stumble back into the wonderful world of photography and rekindle a connection with the past. Curiously, this all transpired amidst the busiest time of my other “real world” professional life.
In college days at Michigan State University, I took a photography course and had the use of a sophisticated darkroom. Reflecting back on that time, my energy was directed to the technical aspects of photography and secondarily to a quest for creative artistic expression. Throughout my twenties, I had the opportunity to work with large and medium format cameras, mostly in black and white. Living in the State of Illinois, I was content to photograph any readily accessible parks, waterfronts and rural scenes. Here again, my efforts were largely directed to photography techniques, testing the limits of camera gear and producing precision images.
After a twenty year hiatus from any serious photography, my interest has shifted to exploration of remote wilderness areas and discoveries along the way. Technical aspects of photography remain important, but most of my time is spent finding truly remarkable scenic areas in locations less traveled.
Perhaps, this new “focus” is born from the year-round outdoors lifestyle living in Arizona, coupled with my passion for hiking and cycling. Or, as one would like to think, I may now be a bit older and wiser. Clearly, I now understand that the subject matter of a photographic image is more important than mere image replication and technical production. In any event, my current photography is inextricably linked to exploration of nature and time spent in the field.
This website presents some of my favorite landscape and waterfront photography, along with some new urban scenes. Some images are from long planned photo expeditions, like our time in a fierce sand storm during a memorable trek through Death Valley National Park. Others photos are from familiar Arizona-Utah locations revisited at every opportunity, including Monument Valley, Sedona and the Paria Canyon – Vermilion Cliffs Wilderness Area.
Admittedly, the camera is only able to capture traces of a nature scene, akin to a partial footprint in the shifting sand. After all, cameras only record light. Today’s most sophisticated photography does not even begin to approach the phenomenal perceptual capacity of the human eye and our other senses. Thus, the photographer is left to record “best impressions” of our dynamic visual world, within the confines of a static two dimensional medium.
My photography seeks to faithfully record and present these vague visual impressions, with emphasis on the splendors of nature and our fragile ecosystem.
Acknowledgements
I am truly indebted to my wife, Anita, family and friends, all of whom actively support my photography ventures. Thankfully, this support extends to a sometimes intense travel schedule, odd hours in the field and an obsessive-compulsive approach to project delivery. My fellow photographers and hikers are also a source of inspiration, and I truly value the lasting friendships forged through our mutual interest. Without their strong support and encouragement, I could not have embarked on this exciting new chapter.
Lastly, my heartfelt thanks goes to those who have charted and worked so hard to preserve our treasured wilderness areas; conservationists, park rangers, legislators and scientists. They are the true stewards of our wondrous “heaven on earth,” preserving our precious land and water for future generations.
Contact Information
Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer
[email protected]
Phone: 602-692-7027
© Marcus W. Reinkensmeyer