BIOGRAPHY ...

Photographer and Artist Mark Hayward was born in the San Joaquin Valley of California and now lives in the vast openness of Northeastern Nevada. In preschool years, Hayward explored the pools and rapids of the Kaweah River in Three Rivers, California, where his Great Grandmother had a home. This was the beginning of a lifelong love and appreciation for wildlife and its habitat.

Mark has photographed wildlife and landscapes in numerous locations this year; including big cats in Montana, secluded lakes in Idaho's Sawtooth Wilderness, wolves in Yelowstone, and the rare Kermode Spirit Bear in British Columbia.

Many of these images were in a collection of framed prints at the Northeastern Nevada Museum in Elko, NV. The entire exhibit can be veiwed on this web site. Click on "Museum Exhibit".

Mark's image "Newborn Bison Calf with Mother" won best of show at the 2009 Shooting the West conference and was published in the summer issue of RANGE Magazine. Mark now has been published in four different RANGE issues over the past two years.

Drawing, painting and photography has been a hobby for Hayward almost his entire lifetime. Although never becoming a full time occupation, art and photography has been an important foundation for Hayward's approach to his business profession. Instruction in art and photography was intertwined with classes while earning his bachelors and masters degree in business.

Hayward is now able to devote more time to the pursuit of excellence in art and photography. His focus for both mediums is on wildlife and landscapes. His goal is to enjoy the pursuit and share the outcome with others.

Hayward's photography encompasses all details from capture to presentation. Capture is digital with Canon cameras and lenses; processing is done using Photoshop CS4 and printing is archievable on Epson printers. Particular attention is paid to the presentation and preservation of the fine art print. Most recent instruction in wildlife photography was by photographer Paul Burwell from Edmonton, Alberta.

Paintings are primarily dry pastel. All are originals carefully framed and protected. Most recent instruction in plein air pastel painting was by Lorenzo Chavez in Tucson, Arizona.