MARK LAITA: Sea, Serpentine and Amaranthine

The three series Sea, Serpentine and Amaranthine are the latest photographic work of Mark Laita. Known  for his commercial work for advertising brands such as Adidas, BMW, MINI, Van Cleef & Arpels, and Apple among others, Mark Laita is also highly respected for his work in Art Photography.

In the series Sea, whether it's a sea horse gently tending to its offspring or a North Pacific Giant Octopus floating in imposing grace, American photographer Mark Laita manages to portray the exotic creatures of the oceans as artistic, aesthetic still lives, yielding a dynamic interplay of image and aesthetic. Sea features among the most wanted Nature Photography series.

Man has always been fascinated not only by the symbolism and the mythology of the snake, but also by its dangerous aura and its elegant grace. In the series Serpentine, Mark Laita has photographed more than 100 of the world's most dangerous serpents (Latin serpens: snake), from the Coral Snake and the Honduran Milk Snake to the Albino Western Diamondback Rattlesnake and the Black Pakistan Cobra.

For the series Amaranthine (Greek Amarantos: unfading), Laita has shot over 100 of the planet's rarest and most beautiful bird species. In contrast to the other two series, the birds such as the majestic Guianan Cock of the Rock or the fiery Red Cardinals, are not alive anymore, but have been preserved for eternity and displayed in Natural History Museums and Ornithology archives.

Mark Laita was born in Detroit in 1960 and grew up in Chicago. In 1986, he moved to Los Angeles where he lives and works. His photographic work has been exhibited at numerous galleries in the U.S. and Europe.

An exhibit of Mark Laita's Nature Photography is currently on view at Camera Work in Berlin, and runs from February 4 to April 14, 2012.

MARK LAITA

"Sea"

 North Pacific Giant Octopus

Copyright © Mark Laita

 Porcupine Puffer (Inflated)

© Mark Laita

 Square Block Anthias

© Mark Laita

 Yellow Boxfish

© Mark Laita

Starfish

© Mark Laita

Common Seahorses

© Mark Laita

"Serpentine"

 Ceylonese Palm Viper

© Mark Laita

Honduran Milk Snake

© Mark Laita

 Malayan Coral Snake

© Mark Laita

Rhinoceros Rat Snake

© Mark Laita

Mangshen Viper
© Mark Laita

"Amaranthine"

 Cardinal

© Mark Laita

 Green Honeycreepers

© Mark Laita

Guianan Cock of the Rock

© Mark Laita

Colored Songbirds
© Mark Laita

Courtesy of the artist / Camera Work, Berlin

MARK LAITA

Camera Work, Berlin

February 4 - April 14, 2012
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