Mark Shaffer Mitchell began his artistic studies with a concentration on plein air painting.  He carries his interest in that over to his pursuit of landscape photography, where he composes in the field and does “full-frame” photography.  He does not edit or crop the image later but reveals everything he wants in the composition with the click of his shutter.  He relies on his intuition and aesthetic sensibilities to commit to the image. Mark is inspired while witnessing nature firsthand, in the full and captivating sense of wonder, in the saturation of the moment, hearing, smelling, feeling and seeing the natural world that he so loves and respects.  His inspiration is the peace and harmony and the reflective suggestion of the nature of the human heart.  In that process he utilizes his extensive studies, training and travels around Asia and the Far East where he embraced the practice of Tibetan Buddhism and a spiritual perspective.  His passion for compassion somehow, almost magically, is felt in the images he chooses to capture with his high-resolution digital camera and equipment.

Mark was raised in the Santa Cruz Mountains of northern California.  He studied art at the University of California at Santa Cruz.  His ethereal and artistic influences infuse his photography.  The resulting spiritual tranquility is revealed to the viewer.

Mark resides in Plumas County, California, surrounded by the wilderness that inspires him.