We're always humbled by the vast array of talented people who contribute to Cinema Retro magazine and website. Apparently, many other people are aware as well. Cinema
Retro London-based contributing writer and photographer Mark Mawston has recently been inducted into
the prestigious Rock Archive.
The
Archive, founded in 1998
by award-winning photographer Jill Furmanovsky, has become the world’s finest
print archive
specialising in rock and roll imagery and counts as its contributors some
of the most famous rock photographers on the planet.
On
being voted into Rock archive Mark says that “I’m very proud to be listed alongside some
of these great photographers as many are as important as the acts they have capturedâ€.
Mark’s
first break was when his photo of graffiti adorning the wall outside Abbey Road
Studios was chosen to represent The Beatles “Anthology†in the EMI ‘100 Years
of Recorded Music’ exhibition. Since then Mark has been fortunate enough to
capture a great number of the artists who’s music has sound tracked the lives
of so many. His portfolio includes shots from the first instigators of Rock ‘n’
Roll through to many of today’s “new hopefulsâ€. He is currently compiling a book
“written by a fan for the fan†in which he describes meetings with such legends
as Brian Wilson, The Stones, Shane McGowan, Iggy Pop, The Sex Pistols, The
Elvis TCB Band, Cream, Ennio Morricone, John Barry, Arthur Lee, Sam Phillips
and many others.
Mark’s passion for music has led him
to create what one agency called “40 years worth of work in half a dozen
yearsâ€. He is currently compiling a book chronicling some of his more
interesting encounters. Mark's best known contributions to Cinema Retro is the multi-part interview with legendary filmmaker Ray
Harryhausen that has been called one of the most definitive ever conducted with special effects genius. Mark also provided advanced, exclusive photos of the Star Wars prop exhibiton that opened in London last year. (To view click here)
The shot here shows Mark with the
all seeing eye from Clash Of The Titans, which he found at the bottom of a tea
chest when helping author Tony Dalton find materials to shoot in his research
for the forthcoming third book on the stop motion legend. “That is a story in
itself but that we’ll keep for another time and another issue†Mark said.
Marks aim is to continue to
photograph the legends that have had an impact on his and others lives both
musically and cinematically. He says, “The thrill of taking a shot of a
musician you’ve listened to or a film star who’s work you’ve loved all your
life never leaves you. You remain a fan after all. Two examples of this
happened recently. I was given the privilege of covering the world premiere of
Brian Wilson’s latest work That Lucky Old Sun. I’d covered both opening nights
of Pet Sounds and Smile but this was a thrill as this time I was given
permission to cover the rehearsal. This meant that in affect I was one of the
first non band members ever to hear this work. I was alone with Brian Wilson in
the RFH as he sang the entire piece to my camera. It was unforgettable. Another great moment recently was
when John Barry’s wife commissioned one of my photo’s of John at last year's
Meltdown. To think that the guy who’s music has been so inspirational now has
one of my pictures “above his fireplace†is a big deal to me. On a cinematic front, to think that
as a kid watching the 200 ft Talos glowering down at me in the stalls in Jason
at The Argonauts, that there would come a day that I’d hold him in my hand is
unbelievable.â€
Some of Marks images can be found at
www.Markmawston.com and the initial
run of his limited edition prints can be found at www.rockarchive.com. As Mark said “You
need only look under the letters B & R to see what illustrious company I’m
in. It’s a real honourâ€.